Woodbine: Starbeau hangs on at 48-1

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Starbeau, a 48-1 shot ridden by Patrick Husbands, led most of the way to capture the $142,625 Bunty Lawless for Ontario-sired runners at Woodbine.

Starbeau ($99.60) dueled with Dance for Olga through fractions of 23.05 and 46.53 seconds while being stalked by Val de Dash in the one-mile turf race.

Starbeau established a slim lead at the three-eighths pole, and held off all comers in the stretch to prevail by a half-length over a closing Bristol Pistol. Val de Dash was another three-quarters of a length back in third, while favored Steady Ruckus was a non-threatening sixth in the 13-horse field.

The final time, over a course rated good, was 1:38.62.

"We decided to put him on the lead," said Mike Keogh, who trains Starbeau. "He got bogged down a little in his last race, and his best races have been when he's been close to the lead or right on it."

Starbeau earned $85,575 in his first stakes triumph for owner-breeder Gustav Schickedanz.