Only Way Is Up successfully defended his Cartier Stakes title for The Sidley Stud, taking command early and carrying his speed all the way through the wire under Salles L. The seven-year-old stopped the clock in 1:08.75 over the fast Woodbine dirt, giving his connections another win in this Grade III sprint.

Race Recap

The Cartier Stakes was run on May 30, 2026, at Woodbine as a Grade III six-furlong dirt stake for older horses with a purse of $150.00. Only Way Is Up, last year’s winner of this same race, returned and delivered another front-end performance for The Sidley Stud and jockey Salles L.

The race produced a dead-heat for second, with Crypto King and Stormy Sultan finishing together behind the winner. Showable Set finished fourth, followed by Exploration Bay, Limpopo, Reliant, and Deviations.

Only Way Is Up broke sharply and was the leader at the first call, holding a head advantage through the opening quarter in :22.1. Showable Set was closest at that point, with Crypto King also engaged near the front. Limpopo tracked next, while Exploration Bay, Stormy Sultan, Deviations, and Reliant were positioned behind the first flight.

At the second call, Only Way Is Up widened slightly and continued to control the race through :45.1. Crypto King advanced into second, while Showable Set stayed close in third. Limpopo remained in the next position, with Exploration Bay still within range. Stormy Sultan began to improve from farther back, while Reliant and Deviations were still trying to make progress.

At the stretch call, Only Way Is Up had opened up to a clear lead through :56.4. Crypto King continued his pursuit in second, Showable Set was still in third, and Limpopo held fourth. Exploration Bay remained fifth, while Stormy Sultan had moved closer but still had work to do.

Through the final furlong, Only Way Is Up maintained command and completed the six furlongs in 1:08.3. Crypto King and Stormy Sultan finished together in a dead-heat for second, with Stormy Sultan producing a much better effort than expected. Showable Set held fourth, Exploration Bay finished fifth, Limpopo sixth, Reliant seventh, and Deviations eighth.

Individual Trip Notes

Only Way Is Up controlled the race from the start, led at every call, and finished clear to defend his Cartier Stakes title.

Crypto King tracked close to the pace throughout, moved into second by the second call, and held on for a dead heat for second.

Stormy Sultan was farther back early, advanced steadily, and finished in a dead-heat for second in a major overachievement.

Showable Set was forwardly placed from the opening call, stayed involved through the stretch, and finished fourth.

Exploration Bay raced in mid-pack, remained within striking range, but could not make a winning move late.

Limpopo tracked the pace early, stayed in the first half of the field through the stretch call, and finished sixth.

Reliant was near the back early and never advanced enough to threaten the main finish.

Deviations raced behind the main group and finished eighth.

About The Winner

Only Way Is Up is a bay gelding by No Doubt About It out of Down And Out, bred by Mb Stables in Florida and currently owned by The Sidley Stud. With this win, he improved his lifetime record to 31 starts, 8 wins, 5 seconds, and 4 thirds, with career earnings of $586.56.

Track: Fast
Time: :22¹  :45¹  :56⁴  1:08³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 4 Paid 59.30, 3 – 5 Paid 292.60
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 4 – 5 Paid 762.50, 3 – 5 – 4 Paid 762.50

Scratched: None

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES