Patches O’Houlihan, Canada’s Reigning Horse of the Year, kicks off campaign in Thorncliffe

TORONTO, May 1, 2025– Patches O’Houlihan, Canada’s newly crowned Horse of the Year, is set to make his 5-year-old debut in Sunday’s $100,000 Thorncliffe Stakes, a 5 ½-furlong main track test for 4-year-olds and up, at Woodbine.

The Frank Di Giulio, Jr. homebred, trained by Hall of Famer Robert Tiller, also earned the champion male sprinter title at the recent Sovereign Awards, which celebrated Canada’s 2024 Thoroughbred champions.

The bay gelding won four of five starts last year, including three graded stakes, highlighted by the Nearctic (G2). His lone defeat came in the Kennedy Road (G2), where he finished just three-quarters of a length behind Nobals, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner.

“It’s great,” said Di Giulio of the horse of the year recognition. “I thought he had a good chance to win it, and I thought he deserved it, but I wouldn’t allow myself to go there. I’m very proud and very happy.

“I thought if he won his last race, he was a cinch. When he lost that race, even though he ran extremely well and had the one-hole, I thought it might have taken a little bit away from him, but I think people respected the race he ran and that he lost to a very good horse.”

Patches O’Houlihan – he’s named after the Rip Torn character in the comedy movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story – showed signs of what was to come when he launched his career in September 2022 and recorded a 4 ½-length win at 5 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main track.

It was in his 3-year-old debut that Di Giulio first saw signs of Patches O’Houlihan’s top-class potential.

Di Giulio recalled the moment vividly: “We ran him in a 5 ½-furlong non-winners of two, Ontario-sired, optional claiming race. He won by 9 ¾ lengths in 1:03[.09] and it totally took me by surprise. He won his first start at 2 and then had to be operated on after his second start. So, I didn’t expect him to come out running like he did in his first race at 3 – that kind of blew me away.”

There would be more reactions like that for Di Giulio, one of the country’s most prominent and successful owners and breeders.

Between May and September of 2023, Patches O’Houlihan reeled off six consecutive victories.

“When he won his second stakes race, the Lake Superior in July of 2023, going six furlongs, and doing it that easily, he didn’t look out of place with the nominees for the Bold Venture, so we decided to try him in there even though it was against older horses. He proved that he could do that, and it clinched that he was a good horse and had a bright future.”

He has also developed a strong following, drawing comparisons to Pink Lloyd, the eight-time Sovereign Award winner and 2017 Horse of the Year in Canada who Di Giulio co-owned under the Entourage Stable banner.

“I know that from being told that. You are somewhat insulated with him, in how you feel about him, but when you hear people say those nice things, it is truly gratifying. By no means is it a comparison to Seabiscuit or anything, but when you dream about what that would have been like, this is a minor scale of that – it is so nice that people appreciate him and you have them on your side.”

Sporting a record of 11-1-0 from 14 starts, along with $696,490 ($943,540 CDN) in purse earnings, Patches O’Houlihan once against spent the winter at Paul Buttigieg’s farm, about a 50-minute drive north of Woodbine. ​

“Bob [Tiller] thinks he’s bigger and stronger than ever, and that he is working as good as he ever has. Hopefully, he will have a good year.

“We considered shipping him out of town last year for his final start – he was in the entries at Turfway – but the more we started thinking about it, the more we realized it wasn’t the best thing for him. He went to the farm sound and came back sound, so we are comfortable we made the right decision.”

Patches O’Houlihan posted a trio of four-furlong breezes ahead of the Thorncliffe, including a :45.20 effort on April 25.

Di Giulio is looking forward to seeing his sprint superstar get his campaign underway.

“I really enjoy watching him run. You know he always shows up – he’s very genuine and he always tries. It’s nice to have that confidence in him going into a race.”

Di Giulio’s son, Luke, likened the horse to a current NHL star.

“I would go with (Colorado Avalanche forward) Nathan MacKinnon because he’s fast and unstoppable when he gets momentum – and he’s built like a truck.”

Longtime groom Clifford Knight shares a special bond with the horse.

“It [watching him race] is the greatest feeling in the world,” said Knight. “I am not nervous, but every time I watch him race, it is like the first time I am seeing him run. It makes me so happy. Everybody loves this horse. A lot of people call me “Patches” and that makes me smile. It gives me a good feeling.”

Sofia Vives, who recently earned her second straight champion apprentice Sovereign award, will once again be aboard for the Thorncliffe.

Multiple graded stakes winners Filo Di Arianna (BRZ), who was crowned Canada’s champion male turf horse for 2024, and Flag of Honour (AUS), graded stakes winner Ironstone, graded stakes placed I’m A Gambler (IRE), and stakes placed Runnin’ Rocket, round out the field.

Last year, Candy Overload, under Patrick Husbands, won the race.

The Thorncliffe is Race 9 on Sunday’s 10-race card. The wagering menu for the race includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, and $1 Swinger. First post time is 1:05 p.m.

Field for the $100,000 Thorncliffe Stakes

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – I’m A Gambler (IRE) – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard

2 – Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

3 – Patches O’Houlihan – Sofia Vives – Bob Tiller

4 – Ironstone – David Moran – Willie Armata

4 – Flag of Honour (AUS) – Ryan Munger – Julia Carey

6 – Runnin’ Rocket – Rafael Hernandez – Martin Drexler

Chris Lomon, Woodbine