Northlands Park: Dougs Buddy wins in comeback

Dougs Buddy paid $4.60 and kept his perfect record at Northlands Park intact with a game win over Unquiet in the $50,000 Western Canada Handicap for 3-year-olds Saturday.

Trained by Joan Petrowski, Dougs Buddy was coming off a long layoff, and it was his first start since he finished last in the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot last November.

Breaking alertly with Stephen Heiler aboard, Dougs Buddy dueled with Unquiet through quick fractions of 22.80 and 46.20 seconds in the six-furlong sprint. Unquiet, who drifted out on the first turn, put his head in front midstretch, but Dougs Buddy fought back and drew away inside the sixteenth pole to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Congrats Man stalked the leaders the whole way and finished third in the five-horse field.

The final time was 1:10.60.