When the Brian Lynch-trained Five Iron broke his maiden with ease last summer at first asking, it was obvious he was a talented colt, and a second-place finish the next […]
When the Brian Lynch-trained Five Iron broke his maiden with ease last summer at first asking, it was obvious he was a talented colt, and a second-place finish the next time out in the Swynford Stakes seemed to confirm that. Then the Kentucky-bred son of Sharp Humor hit a rough patch, finishing off-the-board in his next three races, including low-level graded stakes attempts at both Woodbine and Churchill. Now back at Woodbine, he seems to have regained his footing.
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On Saturday, Five iron went wire-to-wire to capture the $125,000 Toronto Cup Stakes for three-year-olds at a distance of 1 1/8 miles on the grass. Going into the gate as the 3-1 co-second choice, Five Iron overcame both a driving rain and an enquiry to reach the winner's circle. Breaking sharply from the gate under Luis Contreras, Five Iron made the lead and angled in, causing others to check at the rail. From there, Five Iron led throughout, withstood a challenge from Are You Kidding Me in mid-stretch, and after a lengthy review, was awarded the win.
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The win follows on the heels of a previous successful try in the $150,000 Victoria Park Stakes in mid June for Five Iron, a third place effort in the Marine Stakes in May and a runner-up placing in the Woodstock Stakes in April, all at Woodbine. For his career, Five Iron has three wins, two seconds and one third in 10 lifetime starts, and earnings just shy of $300,000. The Toronto Cup was his first win on the grass in his second attempt, having finished sixth in his previous turf try, an allowance event at Keeneland after a four-month layoff.
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Saturday, January 29 at Gulfstream Park is one of the biggest races of the year: the Pegasus World Cup (G1)! This $3 million race, covering a mile and an eighth on the Gulfstream dirt track, drew a field of nine handicap horses. The eyes of the racing world will be on Gulfstream on Saturday, and you can bet it from the comfort of your own home here in Canada!
The Kentucky Derby trail makes its way to Oklahoma on Friday, December 17 for the Remington Springboard Mile! The race drew a field of nine up-and-coming two-year-olds to go a mile on the main track. The prizes are rich: a $400,000 purse, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points (10-4-2-1) for the first four horses across the wire.
The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), California’s most important Kentucky Derby Prep in December, is coming up on Saturday, December 11! The race features the most promising two-year-olds in California, set to go a mile and a sixteenth over the dirt at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The race offers a purse of $300,000, as well as Road to the Kentucky Derby points, apportioned 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.
Let's have a look at the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf betting picks and predictions.
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