Pondering repeats as Bessarabian winner
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Godolphin’s Pondering broke out of her slump by taking the Grade 3 Bessarabian for the second year in a row with a surprisingly forward style under a jubilant Sahin Civaci on Saturday at Woodbine.
After breaking from post 8, Pondering ($22.20) went straight to the front and set fast fractions on a clear lead. Quadruple raced in second throughout and then surged late at the tiring Pondering, who held on to win by a half-length, in a time of 1:23.07.
Favored Reagan’s Flame closed outside for third and Eponine checked in fourth. Purr Factor, Quiet Street, Crystal Visions, Creed’s Gold and Ultimate Authority completed the order of finish.
Civaci said it was an honor to wear the fabled blue Godolphin colors into the winner’s circle for the first time.
“It’s been a big dream of mine to actually wear these silks,” Civaci said. “I’m fortunate to have worn them in New York - a second and a third - and I just wanted to get the win for them.
“I watched her replays and she’s a strong filly. In all her races, it seems like she pulls really hard. We had the outside, so I wanted to use her a little to get (up close). The plan wasn’t to be in front - that’s where she ended up and she kept pulling me. She dragged me along and she hung on.”
Based at Turfway with trainer Brendan Walsh, Pondering had failed to hit the board in five starts this year heading into the Bessarabian. The homebred by Hard Spun earned $105,000 of the $175,850 purse.
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