Patches O'Houlihan Brings Win Streak Into Kennedy Road

Frank Di Giulio's Patches O'Houlihan  continues his pursuit of perfection in 2023 when he battles nine rivals in the CA$175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) at Woodbine Nov. 18.

The 3-year-old gelded son of Reload   is 6-for-6 this year. Among his triumphs are four in stakes: the July 8 Lake Huron Stakes, the July 30 Lake Superior Stakes, the Aug. 20 Bold Venture Stakes (G3), and the Sept. 16 Vigil Stakes (G3).

His last-out victory in the Vigil came by the slightest of margins. Hooked throughout, the Bob Tiller trainee was all out to score by a nose under Daisuke Fukumoto.

#6 PATCHES O'HOULIHAN ($4.40) makes it 6 wins in a row with another victory in the $150,000 Vigil Stakes (G3) at @WoodbineTB. Congrats to trainer Robert Tiller and all the connections of this Reload gelding!

Live racing action continues on @FanDuelTV pic.twitter.com/aULMtlE9AB

— TVG (@TVG) September 16, 2023

• Patches O'Houlihan faces a seemingly tougher test in the Kennedy Road, a six-furlong race on Tapeta that is the final stakes sprint for horses age 3 or older of the Woodbine season. The Woodbine meet ends next month.
• Other contenders include Dream Shake , Ice Chocolat , and War Bomber . Dream Shake and War Bomber are graded stakes winners this year on turf at Woodbine, and Ice Chocolat has threatened in high-class company. He was recently third in the Nearctic Stakes (G2T) and also showed this summer in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course.
• If Patches O'Houlihan can prevail Saturday, he will fall just a win shy of the unbeaten 8-for-8 sprint campaign in 2017 from Pink Lloyd, that year's Canadian Horse of the Year for Entourage Stable and Tiller.