There was a touch of drama, resilience, and redemption on display at Woodbine Racecourse on Saturday, as three thrilling Grade 3 contests produced equally stirring stories. From Sultana’s late surge in the Maple Leaf to Pondering’s gritty Bessarabian victory and Dresden Row’s powerful comeback in the Autumn Stakes, it was a day that celebrated the spirit of racing in its purest form.
Sultana’s Sparkle in the Maple Leaf Stakes
They say patience is a virtue, and for Sultana, it was the secret to glory. The 4-year-old filly, trained by Kevin Attard, displayed both composure and courage to capture the $150,000 Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes in the final strides.
Ridden with supreme confidence by Rafael Hernandez, Sultana was unhurried early on, sitting near the back as Blitz dictated a steady pace up front. As the leaders began to tire turning for home, Hernandez unleashed Sultana’s late kick, and she responded with a surge that carried her past Queens Command (IRE) in the dying moments to win by a head.
“She just kept coming — every step she was gaining,” said Hernandez after the race. “Kevin told me to be patient, and she gave me everything when it mattered.”
Attard, who continues to dominate the Canadian training ranks, praised his filly’s maturity and steady development. “She’s just figuring things out and keeps improving,” he said.
A daughter of Always Dreaming, bred in Kentucky by Michael J. Snyder & Always Dreaming Syndicate, Sultana has now won three of her five starts, marking her first stakes victory.
Pondering Prevails in the Bessarabian
The Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes was a study in grit, as Pondering overcame tough company and testing fractions to score a well-deserved victory for trainer Brendan Walsh and owner Godolphin.
In her first Woodbine appearance, the 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun showed maturity beyond her years. After tracking the pace set by Stormcast and Caitlinhergrtness, jockey Declan Cannon angled her out in the stretch, and Pondering powered home to win by three-quarters of a length.
“She was game all the way,” Cannon said. “When I asked, she found another gear. She’s learning and improving with every race.”
This marked Pondering’s second stakes win, adding to her KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint triumph earlier in the season. She has now amassed four victories from 13 starts and continues to show promise in the sprinting ranks.
Dresden Row Delivers in the Autumn Stakes
The final feature of the afternoon — the $150,000 Grade 3 HPIbet Autumn Stakes — produced one of the most emotional wins of the day, as Dresden Row rediscovered his best form for trainer Lorne Richards and jockey Ryan Munger.
After a frustrating season that included illness and an off-key performance last time out, the reigning Canadian Champion 3-Year-Old Male roared back to his best. Tracking Paramount Prince through a solid pace, Dresden Row swept wide into the stretch and asserted his class to win by 1Âľ lengths.
“Today, everything went right,” said Munger. “He relaxed beautifully, and when he hit the front, his ears were up — that told me the old Dresden was back.”
Richards was relieved as much as delighted. “He’s been through a lot, but he’s a fighter,” he said. “We knew he had it in him.”
A son of Lord Nelson, Dresden Row now boasts a record of six wins from fifteen starts, reaffirming his status among Canada’s elite older horses.
A Showcase of Grit and Growth
From the closing flourish of Sultana to the defiance of Pondering and the rebirth of Dresden Row, Woodbine’s Grade 3 trio was a celebration of talent and tenacity — the qualities that make this venue one of North America’s premier racing stages.
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