Puntrooskie outlasts Noholdingback Bear in Bold Venture

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Puntrooskie ($18.10) wore down the imposing 4-5 favorite, Noholdingback Bear, in the stretch to take the Grade 3 Bold Venture at Woodbine on Saturday.

Puntrooskie benefited from an outside-stalking trip behind the dueling leaders Noholdingback Bear and Choctaw Chuck in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. He made a bid to the lead on the turn, and then got the better of Noholdingback Bear in the final furlong to prevail by a half-length in a time of 1:16.06. Calgary Cat wound up third in the six-horse field.

Patrick Husbands rode Puntrooskie for trainer Don MacRae, who claimed the In Summation gelding for $40,000 on May 27, after which he won an optional claimer before the Bold Venture.

“I rode him with a lot of confidence,” Husbands said. “He ran against the best sprinters on the grounds. I had a lot of horse. I tried to ride (Noholdingback Bear) as tight as possible, to not let him get away down the lane. My horse turned out to be the best horse today.”

Puntrooskie collected $90,000 of the $150,600 purse for the partnership of Michael Lay, Mike Loughry, and D Mac Racing Stable.