Pondering shot to the lead from post 8 and never gave it up, holding off Quadruple by a half-length to win the G3 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine Nov. 7.
Sahin Civaci rode the 4-year-old Hard Spun filly for trainer Brendan Walsh in the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. Pondering was the second Graded Stakes winner on the card for her sire, who was also represented by G3 Autumn Stakes winner, Runaway Again.
Pondering cleared the field quickly and set swift fractions of :22.35, :44.53 and 1:09.03 while hugging the inside rail. She led by three lengths after the opening quarter-mile and opened up by four at the top of the stretch.
Jockey Ryan Munger tracked Pondering from the inside with Quadruple. He tipped her out at the top of the stretch, and Quadruple cut into the margin with every stride. Pondering tired through the final furlong, but Civaci kept her busy and she lasted to the wire in 1:23.07.
Pondering races as a homebred for Godolphin and is out of the Street Sense mare, Always Thinking, winner of the Sensible Lady Turf Dash. Pondering is a half-sister to Think Big (Twirling Candy), winner of the G2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint, G2 Shakertown Stakes and G3 Kelso Stakes in 2025.
Pondering is one of six Graded Stakes winners for her sire, Hard Spun, in 2026. The stallion is also represented by Built (G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt), Gas Me Up (G2 King Edward Stakes), Moon Spun (G2 Unbridled Sydney Stakes), Bold Journey (G3 Tom Fool), and Runaway Again (G3 Autumn Stakes).
Hard Spun will stand the 2027 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $15,000, stands and nurses.
