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2012 Bunty Lawless Stakes


Chantal Sutherland after her final race as a jockey
Date: 10/21/2012

The feature race on Sunday at Woodbine was the $125,000 Bunty Lawless Stakes for Ontario-sired older horses going 1 mile on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. A field of 11 went to post under sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60's, but the eyes of the racing world were on Crushin Hard, sent off as the 11-1 fourth choice, which was revealed earlier in the day to be the final career mount for popular Canadian jockey Chantal Sutherland. The Ian Black trainee is co-owned by Sutherland's father Hugh. The even-money favorite was Pender Harbour, winner of this race last year and exiting a win in the Elgin Stakes. Pender Harbour and Crushin Hard are full brothers, both by Philanthropist out of Uproar. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Good Better Best, third in an allowance last out, and 6-1 third choice Welloiledmachine, 10th in the Overskate after winning the Halton.

Pender Harbour leads down the stretch.

Jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva sent 14-1 Red Eagle to the lead immediately and he set fractions of 23.90, 47.13, and 1:11.39 over the good course while pressed by Pender Harbour and Welloiledmachine. Entering the stretch, Pender Harbour broke free from the back, quickly opening up a 2 length lead in mid-stretch. Good Better Best, last early, put in a late rally on the far outside but to no avail as Pender Harbour cruised past the post 2 1/2 lengths ahead in 1:36.63. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back to 19-1 Mey's Rockey third. Crushin Hard and Chantal Sutherland finished 7th beaten 10 3/4 lengths.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 8   Pender Harbour     Contreras        4.00    2.70  2.70
 1   Good Better Best   Husbands                 3.90  3.20
 7   Mey's Rocket       Campbell                       6.70

Winning Time:  1:36.83

$2 Exacta 8-1                15.50
$2 Trifecta 8-1-7           148.80
$1 Superfecta 8-1-7-5       367.40
Results chart


Left: Pender Harbour in the post parade. Jockey Luis Contreras said, "He’s a gorgeous horse to ride."

Right: Pender Harbour in the indoor paddock. Trainer Mike De Paulo said, "He's an exciting horse and he tries all the time. Carrying 126 pounds is always a concern, we gave up eight pounds, or more, to some decent horses, but he's just a hard-trying horse. We're very lucky to have him."

Left: Second place finisher Good Better Best heads out of the paddock. The 3-1 second choice sat last early under jockey Patrick Husbands, then rallied late to get second beaten 2 1/2 lengths. The Roger Attfield trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 5 seconds, and 1 third in 10 starts, earning $203,936 for owner Harlequin Ranches.

Right: Third place finisher Mey's Rocket in the post parade. The 19-1 shot raced 7th early under jockey Jesse Campbell, then passed tired horses to get third beaten 6 lengths. The Justin Nixon trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds in 8 starts, earning $111,684 for owner-breeder Martinwoods Farm.

Chantal Sutherland's final ride of her career as a jockey was in the Bunty Lawless Stakes aboard Crushin Hard owned by her family's Paradox Farms and her brother Hugh Sutherland, where she finished 7th aboard the 11-1 shot. After the race, she said, “I love Woodbine, I love riding here. It's nice that I could end it here, where it all started for me. “It’s a very emotional experience. It's sad, but I feel good about the decision and the timing is right for me. I hope to be remembered as a very good jockey.” Before the race she posted an official statement on her website, where she said, "Horse racing as been my life for the past 14 years. I’ve reached many of the goals that I set for myself. I’ve lived out many of the dreams I had as a little girl... I’ve always spent so much time racing or focused and preparing for racing. Racing takes so much determination, guts, and sacrifice to be on top. I once craved, lived, and breathed racing. I can honestly say now, I’m ready to slow down and enjoy my life... Racing is so much hard work and takes so much mental toughness; I can honestly say that I’ve had enough." The complete text can be seen here.

Left: Chantal crosses the finish line 7th in her final race. Right: Chantal heads to the jockeys room after the race.

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