Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto hosted two stakes races on Sunday afternoon with potential Sovereign Awards implications. It was overcast most of the day with a brisk wind and temperatures in the mid 40's. A field of nine older horses went 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack in the $150,000 Autumn Stakes (G2). With Approval Stakes winner Ice Bear was sent off as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite, exiting a close second place finish in the Labeeb Stakes last time out. In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice True Metropolitan, winner of this race last year but exiting a fifth place finish in the Premier at Hastings Park and winless since the Eclipse Stakes in June. Palladio was the 4-1 third choice on the board, winner of the Durham Cup last time out after finishing a distant seventh in the Woodbine Mile.
Rosberg led the field first time past the stands and around the clubhouse turn, getting the initial quarter in 25.06, before Ice Bear moved up to set the pace. Ice Bear set fractions of 48.77 and 1:11.84 down the backstretch and around the turn while being pressed by Palladio to his outside. Entering the lane, Stunning Stag, who was 6th early and wide around both turns, closed 5 wide to take over the lead from Ice Bear in midstretch after 1 mile in 1:36.65. However, 9-2 Marchfield, who was 8th for the first 3/4 mile, found room in midstretch after encountering traffic trouble and closed late to win by 1/2 a length in 1:43.28. It was just a neck back from Stunning Stag to Ice Bear third.
Results chart
