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. Sultana and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning the Maple Leaf Stakes on November November 8, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “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 Share This:Share
