Pender Harbour will try to overcome recent gate troubles in Valedictory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pender Harbour was scratched from the gate in last weekend’s Sir Barton Stakes, but will get another opportunity in the wide-open closing-day feature on Sunday at Woodbine, the Grade 3, $150,000 Valedictory Stakes over 1 3/4 miles on Polytrack.

Pender Harbour, the heavy favorite as the field loaded for the Sir Barton, acted up while standing in the gate, necessitating a scratch. He was not originally nominated to the Valedictory but has been supplemented to the race.

“With what happened last week, we just want to see if we can get him over that gate trouble,” trainer Michael De Paulo said. “As they were about to step in the gate, the horse beside him acted up and it just unraveled him. He hadn’t run for a bit and was fresh and was feeling good.”

Pender Harbour has had trouble at the gate in recent starts. Pender Harbour broke slowly in the Bunty Lawless Stakes on Oct. 12. De Paulo said Pender Harbour would get some gate work ahead of Sunday’s race.

“He’s going to school a little bit,” he said. “It’s funny because he’s good in the mornings. It’s an afternoon thing.”

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KEY CONTENDERS

Turkish (Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-78)

◗ Turkish should be forwardly placed and was a dominant 11-length winner in the local prep for this event on Nov. 15 in just his second start for trainer Tino Attard after being claimed for $40,000 on Sept. 27.

Bingo Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 82-82-82)

◗ One of three horses trained by Michael Maker in the field, Bingo Kitten was third behind Golden Soul as the favorite in an allowance race at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1.

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

◗ Pender Harbour won the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Stakes in 2011, but he should be able to stay within range in his first attempt at 1 3/4 miles.

Cozy Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 84-87-85)

◗ Cozy Kitten has been well beaten in his last two starts against Grade 3 company going 1 1/2 miles on the turf, but if he can replicate his recent Beyer Speed Figures, he should be competitive with this group.

Desvelo (Last 3 Beyers: 81-47-92)

◗ Desvelo struggled in the Temperence Hill Invitational Stakes over a sloppy surface at Belmont Park two starts back on Oct. 4, but has put together good performances over long distances in starter allowances, including earning a 92 Beyer at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 29.