Woodbine: Five Iron braves elements to win Toronto Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Five Iron ($8) survived a claim of foul to capture the $127,750 Toronto Cup Stakes in front-running style under Luis Contreras at Woodbine on Saturday.

After breaking on top, Five Iron was angled towards the inside in the nine-furlong route, and then set a moderate pace in the driving rain over the firm turf. He held off a charging Are You Kidding Me in the stretch to score by 1 3/4 lengths, in 1:47.41. Comes the Dream was along for third, and Rei outran 5-2 favorite Sky Commander for fourth in the seven-horse field of 3-year-olds.

Several inside horses checked shortly after the start, as Five Iron made his way towards the rail, but there was no change in the order of finish after a stewards’ inquiry.

“When I broke from the gate, I was almost two lengths in front of everybody,” said Contreras. “I was trying to save ground. I heard a guy yell at me, and I just pulled my horse right away. I didn’t make any contact, or anything like that.”

Five Iron, who was exiting a victory here in the Victoria Park Stakes, was a fading sixth in his only other turf start, a Keeneland allowance race.

“He’s breezed better on the turf all the time,” said Contreras. “The only thing is to get him to relax a little early, and he did it today. He was nice and relaxed early.”

The Brian Lynch-trained Five Iron earned $76,250 for owner Fred Allor.