Maple Leaf Stakes (Grade 3)- $175.00 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Quarter on the Dirt
November 7, 2026

Three Sixes came into the Maple Leaf Stakes looking the class of the field, and that it would be very difficult for one of the others to knock her off. As we know, just because a horse may seem to be the best in the program, that’s not how a race will play out. This time, Three Sixes lived up to the hype, winning by half a length and clearing $1,000.00 in career earnings. She was our pick and the post-time favorite, but still went off at 2/1, which was probably a steal to even get her at that. She is trained by Pan Farms, and had R M Hernandez, and for each, it is their first win in this race. Congratulations to them! The winning time for the ten furlongs was 2:01.21, the third quickest in the race’s history. Let’s track our winner, and the rest of the field through the race now.

(½ Mile- :48.39)- Three Sixes breaks normally from the gate for Pan Farms, and as is her custom, she is not going to be bothered by the early pace and will settle into a spot about three lengths off the lead, and will run fifth after half a mile. The front runners would be TwinTowersRacing’s All Or Nothing, who for some reason was made a ridiculous longshot but was among our picks, and the Winning Link Stables- trained Anoushka On Tap. A pair of runners from The Sidley Stud were just off the lead, as Brandy Outside and Attack Angel remained just in front of our eventual winner. At the back, and probably not in an ideal position for strategy against our big favorite, are West Coast Girls (Diablo Diablo) and Eight Became Four (The Sidley Stud).

(3/4 Mile- 1:12.88)- It’s a ten furlong race, so why put in a lot of energy now if you’re Three Sixes. The filly continues to run in the middle of the field, gracefully down the backstretch without being overly concerned with those in front of her. She would pass Attack Angel over this segment, but that’s more a product of that one beginning to struggle to keep up. All Or Nothing and Anoushka On Tap remained the leaders, while Brandy Outside began to show interest in making a move on them. West Coast Girls was running just fine, but still was two lengths behind Three Sixes, and that may prove to problematic. With three in the field from her trainer, Eight Became Four is likely doing as being instructed, but is well behind most of the field.

(Top of the Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Just prior to reaching the top of the far turn, R M Hernandez moved Three Sixes into what would be a four wide position in hopes to getting around the top three. That’s bad news for our leaders, and probably worse news for those behind her that had deeper closing plans. The front three were all alongside one another at the top of the turn, with Brandy Outside not taking long to clear All Or Nothing and Anoushka On Tap. But The Sidley Stud certainly knew neither of them were the biggest threat. Once at the top of the stretch, Three Sixes had made her way into the second position and only needed to make up another length in the stretch. No, Brandy Outside was not going to let that be easy so our favorite would still have to earn it. Further back, if West Coast Girls had any winning aspirations, she took far too long to eventually clear Attack Angel. Eight Became Four still trailed.

(Finish- 2:01.21)- With just under a furlong to go, Three Sixes put a head in front, and from there it seemed like she had it in the bag. No, this was not going to be a commanding three length or so win like may have seemed possible, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Brandy Outside, to her credit, battled hard and hopefully provided an effort that can make her trainer not return her to BTP. Now, where there was daylight, was behind them back to third. In the end, Three Sixes will win by a half length on Brandy Outside. Someone had to be third, right? West Coast Girls gets that spot, a run that will look a lot better in the program for her next race than it really ever was. The same can be said for fourth place Eight Became Four, who narrowly prevailed over All Or Nothing. The final two were Anoushka On Tap and a distant Attack Angel.

About The Winner- Three Sixes, trained by Pan Farms and ridden to victory by R M Hernandez, is a three year old filly by Cherokee Thriller and is out of Three Sixty Five. She was bred by Pan Farms as a yearling in California. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in 15 starts, her third stake win and her second graded win. Her career earnings are now $1,081.51.

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES