Pender Harbour gets more ground in Sir Barton Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pender Harbour will look for his third stakes win against restricted company on the year in Sunday’s $125,000 Sir Barton Stakes at Woodbine.

Pender Harbour comes into the Sir Barton off a fourth-place finish following a poor break in the Bunty Lawless Stakes on turf Oct. 12. Before that, he was third by a neck in the Overskate Stakes over seven furlongs on Polytrack on Sept. 20. But trainer Michael De Paulo said the added ground of the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton will be beneficial.

“He’s never been the best gate horse, and he broke a little funny [in the Bunty Lawless],” he said. “He was sitting last and wide. With a little more ground, I think it will work to our advantage.”

Sir Barton Stakes, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Pender Harbour (Last 3 Beyers: 76-87-86)

◗ Pender Harbour is unbeaten against restricted company at 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack this season, having won the Steady Growth and Elgin stakes during the summer.

San Nicola Thunder (Last 3 Beyers: 73-84-87)

◗ San Nicola Thunder appears to be at his best on grass, having won the Bunty Lawless Stakes, but he does have the potential to steal this race on the front end for trainer John Cardella.

Spadina Road (Last 3 Beyers: 71-76-68)

◗ Spadina Road has mainly been entered in sprints this season but comes into this spot off a pair of bullet workouts, and he won the Kingarvie Stakes over 1 1/16 miles as a 2-year-old last season.

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Ontario Lassie Stakes, Race 3

Also on the Sunday card is the $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies. Trainer Mark Casse has entered a pair: South Ocean Stakes winner Galina Point and Princess Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Shez a Masterpiece, who was cross-entered in Saturday’s $250,000 Coronation Futurity.

KEY CONTENDERS

Galina Point (Last 3 Beyers: 62-69-68)

◗ Galina Point will be running just 15 days after tracking slow fractions to win the South Ocean Stakes by three-quarters of a length Nov. 15.

Shez a Masterpiece (Last 3 Beyers: 73-72-72)

◗ Shez a Masterpiece was beaten just a length in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Nov. 2 after hopping at the start and spotting the field six lengths after the opening quarter-mile.

London Tower (Last 2 Beyers: 72-75)

◗ London Tower will be the one to catch after nearly going gate-to-wire as the favorite in the Princess Elizabeth.