Víctor Martínez will aim for a home run with Little Vic in the Godolphin Mile

The renowned Venezuelan baseball player, owner of the Practical Joke colt, will be present at the Dubai World Cup festival

Víctor Martínez, his wife Margaret, and Little Vic at Gulfstream Park / ADAM COGLIANESE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (DWC Media Team) – The horses won’t be the only heavy hitters at the Dubai World Cup day… Among the owners, there will also be a sports star.

Little Vic, one of the contenders for the Godolphin Mile - Sponsored by Emaar (G2), will defend the colors of former Major League Baseball player Víctor Martínez, a five-time MLB All-Star and now a passionate thoroughbred owner.

Martínez, who became involved in the racing industry after retiring in 2018, purchased the Practical Joke colt at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, paying $50,000 for what turned out to be a true gem: to date, the chestnut has earned $566,010 in prize money.

However, the Venezuelan does not take credit for the purchase. “I know nothing about horses, so it was trainer Juan Carlos Ávila who chose him, and we really got lucky with Little Vic,” he admits.

“He’s the best horse I’ve had, along with King Guillermo (G2 Tampa Bay Derby 2020, and now standing at stud at Haras La Pasión in Argentina in partnership with Haras La Providencia). With him, we made it to the Kentucky Derby, but two days before the race, he developed a fever, and we had to scratch him,” he recalls.

Martínez, who grew up near a racetrack in Ciudad Bolívar, has had better luck with Little Vic. His latest victory, the eighth of his career, came on January 25 at Gulfstream Park, where he won the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) over 1600 meters, the same distance he’ll face in the Godolphin Mile.

“I named him Little Vic because when I was a player, my teammates used to call my son that,” says Martínez, who has all his horses in the care of his compatriot Ávila. “Like any athlete, he’s had his ups and downs, but he’s given us a lot of joy.”

The Godolphin Mile will also mark Ávila’s debut in Dubai, but his owner is confident that his horse, with a rating of 107, will rise to the challenge. Along with his wife Margaret, he will travel to the United Arab Emirates to cheer him on.

“Juan Carlos told me that Little Vic was asking for more distance,” Martínez explains. “At the end of the year, we tried him at the 1400 meters of the Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream, where he ran very well, losing to the Chilean Mufasa (Practical Joke) (another entrant in the race) and White Abarrio (Race Day), who would go on to win the Pegasus World Cup (G1). He started slow, but finished with a strong charge.”

“In his last race, Juan Carlos wanted to try him at the mile, and he responded brilliantly. When we received the invitation, we didn’t hesitate: we’re excited to give it a try.”

It’s time to hit a home run, Little Vic.

Laura King