Woodbine: Stakes winner Pender Harbour launches comeback following surgery

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mike DePaulo will have a busy afternoon at Woodbine on Friday when he will saddle three runners, including stakes winner Pender Harbour.

Pender Harbour, a handsome son of Philanthropist, is among 11 Ontario-sired horses entered in the fifth race, an allowance at six furlongs. As a 2-year-old last year, he graduated second-time out with authority in a seven-furlong maiden special Nov. 13. Two weeks later, Pender Harbour captured the $128,200 Kingarvie Stakes after closing strongly, earning a 74 Beyer Figure in the 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired stock.

Pender Harbour subsequently underwent surgery to remove a knee chip, which set him back a little this spring.

“We’re just looking to get him started,” DePaulo said. “He may be a work short.”

The DePaulo-trained Quick Code heads the featured seventh, a first-level allowance over six furlongs for 3-year-olds.

Quick Code debuted in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for $32,000 maidens April 22. After saving ground in a stalking position, he was angled four-wide exiting the turn, and then inhaled the leaders before kicking clear to win by 7 1/2 lengths over next-out winner Burning Mandate. He was awarded a 79 Beyer.

“He was awesome,” DePaulo said. “We’d entered him in a few spots, and the races didn’t go. We put him in for $32,000, and he ran a dynamite race. He came back and worked super the other day.”

Quick Code breezed five-eighths in 59.40 seconds last Friday, which was the fastest of 58 works at the distance.

There is ample speed in Friday’s headliner, and DePaulo is optimistic that Quick Code will settle in the early stages again.

“He looked like he was very rateable in his first start,” DePaulo said. “It wi ll be interesting to see how he makes out.”

Eddington Limit won his carer debut on April 16. He led throughout that 5 1/2-five-furlong event to score by a head, earning a 72 Beyer.

Magoo won his maiden second-time out on opening day after shipping in from Gulfstream Park, where he showed speed before ending up third in a turf sprint in March.

Ice Danger made both of his starts as a 2-year-old last July. After taking his debut for a $40,000 tag, he nearly upset Sensational Slam in the Vandal Stakes, which he lost by a head after setting the pace.

Jadran and Bear No Joke are also in with a shot.