The Baseball Star and the Racehorse – Coming Our Way!

By Laura King

The horses won’t be the only big hitters at this year’s Dubai World Cup meeting… one of the owners is a famous sports star too.

G2 Godolphin Mile (sponsored by Emaar) contender Little Vic carries the colours of former Major League Baseball star Victor Martínez, a five-time MLB All-Star turned passionate owner.

Martinez, who became involved in racing after he retired in 2018, signed for the son of Practical Joke himself at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2018 and his $50,000 outlay proved a great catch, being rewarded with earnings of $566,010 since.

However, the Venezuelan is unwilling to take the credit for the shrewd purchase. “I don’t know anything about horses, so the trainer, Juan Carlos Avila, picks them out and we really got lucky with Little Vic,” he says.

“He’s been the best horse I’ve owned besides [2020 G2 Tampa Bay Derby winner] King Guillermo. He took us to the Kentucky Derby but unfortunately two days before the race he got a fever and we had to scratch him.”

Martinez, who got into racing by growing up near a track in Ciudad Bolívar, has been luckier with Little Vic. His most recent of eight career wins came on 25 January in the G3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park, over 1600metres, the same trip he will face in the Godolphin Mile.

“I named him Little Vic because in my playing times my playmates used to call my son Little Vic,” continues Martinez, who has all his horses with fellow Venezuelan Avila. “Like every athlete he has his ups and downs, but he’s done great for us.”

Little Vic will also be a first Dubai runner for Avila, but his owner is confident their 107-rated colt is up to the challenge and will travel to Dubai along with his wife Margaret to cheer him on.

“Juan Carlos was telling me that Little Vic was asking for more distance,” he continues. “By the end of last year he went for a seven furlong [G3 Mr Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream] and he did well, getting beat by Mufasa, who’s going to be in the race, and [2023 G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner] White Abarrio. He finished strong after coming out of the gates slowly.

“In his last race Juan Carlos wanted to go for a mile and he ran great, so when we got the invitation we were extremely happy to give it a try.”

Time to knock it out of the park, Little Vic.