Gierkink’s review: Pender Harbor saves the day for birthday boy DePaulo

It was an eventful 50th birthday for trainer Mike DePaulo on Sunday. His Queen’s Plate hopeful, Athenian Guard, seemed headed for victory in the stretch of the fourth race before he ducked from the whip and unseated Justin Stein. Both horse and rider were unscathed, while favored Coltimus Prime came wide to capture the 1 1/8-mile allowance for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds, while earning just a 68 Beyer Speed Figure.

DePaulo’s stable star, Pender Harbour, missed the break in the featured $125,000 Sir Barton Stakes, before rallying five wide from last to prevail in 1:42.39, a time that wasn’t far off the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack record, and it translated into a 93 Beyer. The memorable victory was the 50th career stakes win for DePaulo, who sent out Pender Harbour to win both the Prince of Wales and Breeders’ stakes in 2011.

Fast first-timers

Seffeara aired in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds, scoring by 11 3/4 lengths after being geared down late, in a Polytrack record time of 51.01 seconds. Trained by Steve Owens, the son of Old Forester received a big 82 Beyer, and he should be a force in the early juvenile stakes at the meet.

Speed Seeker, a 3-year-old filly trained by Joan Scott, led all the way to take a one-mile maiden special weight race on the grass by 7 3/4 lengths, with an 83 Beyer. The inexpensive Florida-bred seems like a prospect for the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes here Aug. 23.

Horse to Watch

SORRY ABOUT THAT
Trainer: Laurie Silvera
Last race: June 8, 3rd
Finish: Fourth by 8 1/2 lengths
Beyer: 63

He raced well off a sleepy pace while four wide after getting bet down to favoritism in his first turf try in a first-level allowance sprint. The 5-year-old should be the boss if he runs back in an allowance on the Polytrack, over which he wound up second to reigning Canadian champion sprinter Phil’s Dream in the restricted New Providence Stakes on May 19.