Pondering prevails in Bessarabian, spoils Caitlinhergrtness' final race at Woodbine
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Turfway shipper Pondering spoiled Caitlinhergrtness’ final start at Woodbine by landing the Grade 3 Bessarabian under a shrewd ride from Declan Cannon on Saturday.
Pondering ($27.90) established an inside stalking position on the backstretch in the seven-furlong sprint for females behind the dueling leaders Stormcast and Dolce Sopresa.
Caitlinhergrtness, last year’s popular King’s Plate winner and Canadian champion 3-year-old filly, tracked the leaders on the outside before hitting the front entering the stretch.
Cannon angled Pondering wide for the drive and wore down Caitlinhergrtness in late stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:23.34.
Love Cervere finished another length back while edging out Uphill Dance for third. Shotgun Wedding, Serene Seraph, Tricky Temper, Stormcast, Bolt Enoree, A Little Frisky, Golden Canary, Mo Fox Given, Les Reys, and Dolce Sopresa completed the order of finish.
Cannon said Pondering was closer to the pace than usual before firing big in her first start with Lasix since June.
“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 nice. I was very proud of her effort. When she leveled off, I knew she’d have a good kick because that’s how she likes to run. I just didn’t want to get (to the front) too soon, because she knows (when) she’s done enough.”
A daughter of Hard Spun trained by Brendan Walsh, Pondering banked $90,000 of the $159,300 purse for owner-breeder Godolphin.
Caitlinhergrtness is scheduled to make one more stakes start in December at Turfway before retiring to the breeding shed.
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