Woodbine: Pender Harbour beats older rivals over soft turf in Bunty Lawless

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Pender Harbour rebounded from a disappointing try in the Pennsylvania Derby with a sharp score over older Ontario-sired stock at Woodbine on Saturday in the $126,200 Bunty Lawless Stakes.

Luis Contreras rode Pender Harbour ($6.50), who dueled with Peter’s Charisma for the lead on the backstretch of the one-mile route, before taking control on the turn. He drew away in the stretch to prevail by 4 1/4 lengths, in 1:38.66 over the soft turf.

Welloiledmachine finished a clear second, and Hippolytus checked in third. Citius completed a sweep of the first four positions by 3-year-olds.

Pender Harbour, who is a candidate for Canadian Horse of the Year honors, earned $75,000 in his third stakes win of the year. He also captured two-thirds of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales and Breeders’ Stakes.

Trainer Mike DePaulo said he had mixed feelings about running Pender Harbour over soft ground.

“I would rather have seen it come off, but I guess I was wrong,” said DePaulo. “He’s just a good horse.”