Runaway Again returned from layoff to score stylishly in the Grade 3 HPIbet Autumn Stakes Saturday at Woodbine.
Breaking from post position one, Runaway Again settled kindly in fourth for jockey Ryan Munger, as the field of six navigated the opening turn in the nine-furlong route, with a purse of $175,000 for three-year-olds and upward.
English Actor, one of two entrants for Chiefswood Stables Limited, led through an opening two-furlong split in 24:58. The two greys, Durham Cup winner William T and Swift Delivery comprised the second flight. Side Street, the other Chiefswood hope, raced outside of Runaway Again and 2024 Autumn Stakes champion Wicked Django was sixth.
With Aebly aboard William T, Rafael Hernandez took the call in the Autumn on English Actor and had the chestnut son of English Channel free on the lead through a half in :49.61, and maintained the lead past six furlongs in 1:13.64.
Runaway Again, enjoying a smooth trip around the turn, was angled out widest by Munger approaching the head of the lane, and kicked into top gear, passing Wicked Django, William T and roaring by English Actor in the final sixteenth, to win going away by 2 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:50.37. English Actor held for second. William T was third and Wicked Django finished fourth.
Trained by Canadian Hall of Fame conditioner Sid Attard, Runaway Again captured his second graded win of the Woodbine meet after winning the Grade 3 Dominion Day in June. The four-year-old bay gelding (Hard Spun - Golden Venus, by Storm Cat) was making his first start since August 1st, when beaten a head by 2023 King's Plate winner Paramount Prince.
"He's one of those horses where thank goodness everybody in the team knows him... from Sid to the groom to the gate crew, especially thank you to the gate crew but yeah because everybody knows him so well the trick with him is you just got to do everything the way he wants it to be done," said Munger, who also guided Runaway Again to a half-length win in the 2025 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.
"I just had to give him daylight at the top of the lane. He mowed them down like the favourite should. It was a very deserved win from him today," said the amiable South African reinsman.
Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs and owned by Stronach Stables, Runaway Again broke his maiden at first asking in July 2025, winning a mile and a sixteenth race by 9 1/4 lengths.
"You can't fight him," said Attard, who breezed the gelding six times in preparation for his fall return. "He always train good. You give him company, you know, and we've been training him easy five-eighths and I tell the rider, let him gallop out."
Attard noted that Woodbine racing fans may see Runaway Again before the end of the meet.
"If something good, you know, why not, He's a fresh horse. He's feeling good, so we'll see."
With the Autumn win, Runaway Again improved to 5-1-2 from 10 career starts.
Runaway Again was installed as the 4-5 morning line favourite, went to post as the even money top choice and returned $4.00 for the win.
Pondering Repeats in Bessarabian
Godolphin's Pondering shipped back to Woodbine and held on gamely late to repeat in the $175,000 Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes Saturday.
Ridden for the first time by Sahin Civaci, the defending champion in the 7-furlong main track sprint broke running from the outside, leading the field of nine by three lengths through an opening quarter mile in :22.35.
Recent Ontario Fashion Stakes winner Quadruple (GB) was second, followed in order by Purr Factor, Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters winner Reagan's Flame, Crystal Visions, Ultimate Authority, Eponine (IRE), Creed's Gold, and Quiet Street. The original field of ten was reduced by one, with Home for a Rest a scratch.
Going third off the layoff for trainer Brendan Walsh, Pondering rolled by the half mile marker, 2 1/2 lengths in front in a sizzling :44.53, with Civaci and the daughter of Hard Spun extending the lead to 4 lengths entering the stretch.
Mid-lane, Ryan Munger had the in-form Quadruple (GB) in full flight as a tiring Pondering was trying to see it out through a taxing six panels in 1:09.03. Inside the half-furlong pole, Quadruple (GB) was drawing closer with every stride, but the wire arrived in time for the defending champion and an elated Civaci, as they prevailed by a determined half length. The final running time was 1:23.07.
"I watched her replays, you know she's a strong filly," said Civaci. "In all the races she seems like she pulls really hard and we had the outside, so I wanted to use her a little.
"The plan wasn't to be in front, but that's where she ended up and she kept pulling me in. She dragged me along there and she hung on."
Owned and bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, Pondering (Hard Spun - Always Thinking, by Street Sense) raced eleven times as a sophomore, winning thrice, including a half-length win in the 2025 Bessarabian with jockey Declan Cannon up. That day, she came from off the pace, beating a field of fourteen and paid $27.90 for the victory.
Winless since (and 0 for 5 in 2026) Pondering was listed at 15-1 on the morning line, went postward at 10-1 and returned $22.20 for today's win. With her successful repeat in the Bessarabian, Pondering improved to 5-2-1 from 20 career starts, and is now 2 for 3 at the 7-furlong main track distance.
Quadruple (GB) closed gamely to be second. Race favourite Reagan's Flame was third. Eponine (IRE) rounded out the superfecta and second choice Creed's Gold finished 8th.
Sultana Reigns in Maple Leaf Stakes
Defending champion Sultana dug in gamely in the final furlong to repeat in the $175,000 Maple Leaf Stakes (Grade 3) Saturday at Woodbine.
The now 5-year-old dark bay/brown mare capped her 4-year-old campaign last November, rallying from off the pace to win the 2025 Maple Leaf Stakes by a head with jockey Rafael Hernandez in the irons.
Reunited with Hernandez for this year's edition, the Kevin Attard pupil broke well from post position 2 as the field of seven exited the King's Plate chute, in the 1 1/4 miles fall classic for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and upward.
First time under the wire, recent Ontario Matron winner Lupa (IRE) opened a 4 1/2 length lead, through an opening quarter mile in a brisk :23.33. Hurricane Clair took up the chase in second. Fortyfiveseventy saved ground in third. Wonder Where Stakes winner Dixie Law, the only three-year-old in the field, was fourth. Scat Girl, Sultana and shipper Venencia (FR) completed the running order into the clubhouse turn.
Lupa (IRE), under a tight hold by rider Fraser Aebly, led the field through a half mile in :47.72 and continued on the point through an opening six panels in 1:13.05, though the rest were drawing closer entering the far turn.
After advancing into fifth, Sultana commenced a bold, wide move inside the three-eighths pole, and soon joined pacesetter Lupa (IRE) at the top of the lane through an opening mile in 1:38.75.
Though several paths apart, Lupa (IRE) persevered on the rail, clinging desperately to the lead, however Sultana found her best stride, collaring the leader inside the 70-yard pole, going on to prevail by a measured length in a final time of 2:05.33.
"She's nice, settle down, like Kevin told me, 'Raffy let her break and see where we are' and just make sure, you know, finish strong." said Hernandez. "Last quarter and that's what we did it, you know, and she showed up today and it's unbelievable."
Bred in Kentucky by Michael J. Snyder & Always Dreaming Syndicate, Sultana opened her 2026 campaign in late March, with a turf win in the twelve furlong Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream, scoring a 19-1 upset, but went to the shelf afterward.
"We got a little side railed after that with her," lamented Attard. "You find the right races for this type of horse, it becomes a little bit more challenging. She was in some ambitious spots afterwards. But, I mean, she didn't disgrace herself. I thought she showed a lot of accountability and ran well in them."
Owned by a partnership including Lou Donato, Theodore Manziaris, Paul Borrelli and Lanni Bloodstock, Sultana returned to Woodbine for a summer campaign, finishing third in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes, fourth versus males in the Niagara Stakes and recently sixth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes.
Adding Lasix for her Maple Leaf defense, Sultana (Always Dreaming - Private Offering, by Pulpit), appeared dead fit, as she notched three straight bullets on the Woodbine all-weather track.
"Right now, the plan is to continue racing her next season," said Attard. "She didn't make it to the races until she was four. So she's been good and healthy right now. So we'll probably freshen her up and aim for a Florida campaign for the winter."
After doubling up in the Maple Leaf, Sultana improved to 5-1-2 in 10 career starts and remains undefeated at 10 furlongs over the Woodbine main track.
Sultana was listed at 7-2 on the morning line, was off as the 6-5 favourite and returned $4.70 for the win. Fortyfiveseventy rallied late to place, Lupa (IRE) was third and Hurricane Clair finished fourth.
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