Trio of Action-Packed Grade 3 Stakes at Woodbine

Sultana scores in Maple Leaf, Pondering prevails in Bessarabian, Dresden Row delivers in Autumn

November 8, 2025

Raisin’ her game: Sultana scores in Grade 3 Maple Leaf

TORONTO, November 8, 2025 – Sultana got up in the final jumps to take top prize in a thrilling renewal of the $150,00 Maple Leaf Stakes (G3), Saturday at Woodbine.

Trained by Kevin Attard for Lou Donato, Theodore Manziaris, Paul Borrelli and Lanni Bloodstock, the 4-year-old daughter of Always Dreaming out of the Pulpit mare Private Offering came into the 1 ¼-mile main track test for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, off a rallying 2 ¾-length score at 1 1/16 miles over the Toronto oval inner turf on September 14.

Sent off at 5-1, Sultana, after a stutter-step start, settled near the back in the seven-horse field. It was the trio of Blitz, Hurricane Clair and For Flying (BRZ) who tussled on the front end past the wire for the first time, with the former striking front and taking her rivals into the opening turn.

Blitz held a two-length advantage over Hurricane Clair after an opening quarter in :23.75, while Sultana, with leading rider Rafael Hernandez in the irons, sat sixth.

It was still Blitz in control through a half in :48.49, but For Flying ratcheted up the pressure soon after and was nearly on even terms rounding the turn for home. Sultana, meanwhile, had made steady progress, and began to wind up with an outside rally straightening for the wire.

Queens Command (IRE), longest shot on the board at 26-1, forged to the front midway down the lane, while Dancing N Dixie found a seam and began to make headway down the middle of the track. Sultana, under steady urging, continued to grind away on the outside and was able to get up in time to post a head victory. Queens Command was second, a length ahead of Dancing N Dixie. Blitz held for fourth.

The final time was 2:05.72.

“Kevin told me, ‘Rafi, just ride confident, be nice and confident on the horse and be patient.’ And that's what I do. I just tried to save a little bit of ground on the first turn and be patient.

"You never give up," Hernandez continued. "You know, you can see every step it was gaining and gaining, more and more. Kevin does an unbelievable job.”

Attard, Canada’s reigning trainer of the year, also had high praise for the lightly raced filly, who won at first asking on May 31, 2025.

“Well, we were always keen on her right from the get-go, and obviously in her first race, she was pretty impressive,” said Attard. “She's just kind of figuring it out as she goes along and improving like you would expect of a horse whose kind of having a late start to her career like she has. So, she came into this race working really well, and we were pretty high on her today.”

Bred in Kentucky by Michael J. Snyder & Always Dreaming Syndicate, the dark bay, who was contesting her first stakes affair, now has a mark of 3-1-1 from five starts. She was a $50,000 (U.S.) purchase at the 2023 OBS Company June Two-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Sultana paid $12.90 for the win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine

Pondering prevails in gritty Grade 3 Bessarabian effort

TORONTO, November 8, 2025 – Pondering, in her first appearance at Woodbine, pounced late to take top prize Saturday’s $150,000 Bessarabian Stakes (G3).

It was a cavalry charge to the start of the seven-furlong main track event for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, with Stormcast, last year’s winner, crossing over from the outside to grab the lead before taking her rivals, including Dolce Sopresa, in second, and Pondering, sitting third, through an opening panel in :22.76.

In rein to Patrick Husbands, Stormcast continued to lead the way, with Caitlinhergrtness, the 2-1 choice, now second, through a half in :45.83, as Declan Cannon, aboard Pondering, sat fourth.

Caitlinhergrtness seized control into the turn for home and then looked to dash away from her pursuers in early stretch, while Pondering, at 12-1, looked to reel in the 2024 King’s Plate winner. With less than 125 yards to go, Pondering surged to the lead en route to a three-quarter length victory. Caitlinhergrtness was second, one length ahead of graded stakes winner Love Cervere. Uphill Dance, at 95-1, closed to be fourth.

The final time for the Brendan Walsh trainee was 1:23.34.

“I didn't think I'd be sitting as close as that, but I just sat in there, let her relax,” said Cannon. “And she was very game when I called on her. She did everything right. I'm very proud of the effort today.

"I always felt like I had the measure of her (Caitlinhergrness). And you know, I just didn't want to get there too soon because she knows, she's done it enough.”

It was the second stakes success for the Godolphin homebred (Kentucky), who won the KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes, on August 2.

The 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun out of the Street Sense mare Always Thinking, who is now 4-1-1 from 13 starts, broke her maiden in her career bow, a 2 ¼-length triumph at 5 ½ furlongs over the Ellis Park dirt on July 22, 2024.

She arrived at the Bessarabian off a third in the Franklin Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland on October 12.

Pondering paid $27.90 for today’s win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine

Dresden Row delivers in Grade 3 Autumn

TORONTO, November 8, 2025 – Dresden Row, under Ryan Munger, powered to the lead midway down the lane to win Saturday’s $150,000 HPIbet Autumn Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.

Sent on his way at 6-1 in the field of 11, the 4-year-old chestnut colt broke alertly and settled into third going into the first turn as Paramount Prince led the way, followed by Funtastic Again.

Paramount Prince was a length clear of Funtastic Again through a lively opening quarter in :23.35 in the 1 1/8-mile main track event for 3-year-olds and up, as Munger kept multiple graded stakes winner Dresden Row just off the rail in third.

In front by two lengths after a half in :47.13, Paramount Prince was soon confronted by Funtastic Again and 98-1 Lost Ark strides before turning for home, while Dresden Row was camped in fourth behind the leaders.

Dresden Row, now four wide, forged to the front with 250 yards to the finish line. Jokestar arrived on the scene and came calling, while Cameo Performance, skimming the rail, looked to reel in the leader with time running out.

At the wire, Dresden Row, Canada’s champion 3-year-old male, was a 1 3/4-length winner. Jokestar was second, a head in front of Cameo Performance. Swift Delivery was fourth. Map’s a Breeze lost rider Fraser Aebly at the start - both horse and rider are okay. Borealis Trail and Wyoming Bill were scratched.

The final time was 1:50.07.

"For once this year, thank goodness, the race worked out perfect,” said Munger. “The pace was genuine in front, and there were two nice horses that will pull me through quite a long way up. And yeah, he relaxed quite nicely in behind them. And you know, when he leveled out in the stretch, he hit the front, his ears were still up, and I was like, ‘He's back.’

“Barring his last run (third, 12 lengths behind winner Paramount Prince at 1 1/16 miles over the main track on October 19), he's been right there. The last run caught me a bit dumbfounded. But today, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, he came back. He did it, and I'm just so grateful for that.”

"I couldn't make an excuse for him (in his last race),” said Lorne Richards, who trains for Keith Johns’ True North Stable and Bloom Racing Stable (Jeffrey Bloom). “I just don't know what happened. Just didn't fire, you know. We had to scratch earlier in the year. He got awfully sick and he came back and ran a big race off being sick.

“For the last week, I've been trying to find a reason not to run him, but I just couldn't see any reason not to. It worked out for the best.”

After finishing second in his career bow, a six-furlong test over the E.P. Taylor turf in October 2023, and then third, a head back of the winner in a 6 ½-furlong race over the main track two weeks later, Dresden Row recorded his milestone first win via a 1 ¼-length score at 1 1/16 miles over the same surface on November 5.

He closed out his rookie campaign with another strong outing, a 3 ¼-length triumph at 6 ½ furlongs over the main track on December 7.

Dresden Row’s first stakes success came in the Durham Cup on September 28, 2024. One race later, he took the Ontario Derby (G3).

Bred in Kentucky by TCR Ranch, Dresden Row (Hip #315) was a $70,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

Now 6-5-4 from 15 starts, the son of Lord Nelson out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Elle Special paid $15.40 for the Autumn win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine