Woodbine: Sultana, Pondering, Dresden Row win Saturday stakes

Dresden Row powered to the front under Ryan Munger in midstretch to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Autumn by 1 3/4 lengths Saturday at Woodbine.

The 4-year-old son of Lord Nelson, sent off at 6-1 in a field of 11, broke alertly and settled in third into the first turn as Paramount Prince led followed by Funtastic Again.

Paramount Prince was a length clear after an opening quarter in 23.35 seconds in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. Munger kept Dresden Row just off the rail in third.

In front by two lengths after a half in 47.13 seconds, Paramount Prince was soon confronted by Funtastic Again and 98-1 Lost Ark before the home turn. Dresden Row sat fourth behind the leaders.

Four wide into the lane, Dresden Row forged to the front with 250 yards left. Jokestar arrived on the scene while Cameo Performance skimmed the rail to try reeling in the leader.

Dresden Row, Canada's champion 3-year-old male, held on for the win. 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 were OK. 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,” Munger said. “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.’

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 1/2-furlong race over the main track two weeks later, Dresden Row recorded his milestone first win via a 1 1/4-length score at 1 1/16 miles over the same surface on Nov. 5.

He closed out his rookie campaign with another strong outing, a 3 1/4-length triumph at 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track on Dec. 7.

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

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

Now with a record of 15: 6-5-4, Dresden Row paid $15.40. He is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Elle Special.

Poundering closes to win Bessarabian

Pondering pounced late in her first Woodbine start to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Bessarabian Stakes on Saturday.

Stormcast, the defending champion, crossed over from the outside post to grab the early lead in the seven-furlong main-track race for fillies and mares 3 and up. Patrick Husbands guided her through an opening quarter-mile in 22.76 seconds, with Dolce Sopresa second and Pondering sitting third.

Stormcast continued to lead through a half-mile in 45.83 seconds as Caitlinhergrtness, the 2-1 favorite, moved into second and Pondering dropped to fourth.

Caitlinhergrtness seized command turning for home and opened a clear advantage in upper stretch. But Declan Cannon called on Pondering, the 12-1 shot, who reeled in the 2024 King's Plate winner inside the final furlong for a 3/4-length victory. Caitlinhergrtness finished second, one length ahead of graded stakes winner Love Cerveze. Uphill Dance, at 95-1, closed for fourth.

Pondering, trained by Brendan Walsh, finished in 1:23.34.

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

The Godolphin homebred earned her second stakes win after taking the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes on Aug. 2.

The 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun-Always Thinking by Street Sense improved her record to 13: 4-1-1. She broke her maiden by 2 1/4 lengths at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Ellis Park dirt on July 22, 2024.

Pondering entered off a third in the Franklin Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on Oct. 12. She paid $27.90 to win.

Sultana rallies to win Maple Leaf

Sultana rallied to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Maple Leaf Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.

The 4-year-old daughter of Always Dreaming out of Private Offering, by Pulpit, entered the 1 1/4-mile main-track race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up off a 2 3/4-length victory at 1 1/16 miles over the Toronto oval's inner turf Sept. 14.

Kevin Attard trains Sultana for Lou Donato, Theodore Manziaris, Paul Borrelli and Lanni Bloodstock.

Sent off at 5-1, Sultana settled near the back of the seven-horse field after a stutter-step start. Blitz, Hurricane Clair and For Flying tussled on the front end past the wire the first time. Blitz struck the front and took her rivals into the opening turn.

Blitz held a two-length advantage over Hurricane Clair after an opening quarter in 23.75 seconds. Sultana sat sixth with leading rider Rafael Hernandez aboard.

Blitz stayed in control through a half in 48.49 seconds. For Flying ratcheted up the pressure soon after and moved nearly even rounding the turn for home. Sultana made steady progress and launched an outside rally straightening for the wire.

Queens Command, the longest shot on the board at 26-1, forged to the front midway down the lane. Dancing N Dixie found a seam and advanced down the middle of the track. Sultana continued to grind away on the outside under steady urging and reached the wire a head in front.

Queens Command finished second, a length ahead of Dancing N Dixie. Blitz held for fourth.

The final time came back 2:05.72.

"Kevin told me, 'Rafi, ride confident, be nice and confident on the horse and be patient.' And that's what I did," Hernandez said. "I tried to save a little ground on the first turn and be patient.

"You never give up. You know, you can see every step she gained and gained, more and more. Kevin does an unbelievable job."

Attard, Canada's reigning trainer of the year, praised the lightly raced filly who won at first asking May 31.

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

Michael Snyder and Always Dreaming Syndicate bred the dark bay in Kentucky. She competed in her first stakes. Her record stands at 5: 3-1-1. She sold for $50,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Sultana paid $12.90.