Woodbine: Patrioticandproud rallies wide to win Toronto Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Patrioticandproud notched his first stakes while winning on turf for the first time under Eurico Da Silva in the $150,900 Toronto Cup at Woodbine on Saturday.

Favored Hammers Terror, who shipped here from Chicago to take the June 23 Charlie Barley Stakes, set moderate early fractions in the nine-furlong route, with Excaper in close attendance. Mr. Online made an early bid for the lead heading into the turn and then tussled with Hammers Terror until midstretch.

Patrioticandproud and Excaper both rallied wide in the stretch, and Patrioticandproud got home on top by a length over Excaper. Attendant was along for third after lacking a clear path in the lane, and Hammers Terror salvaged fourth in the five-horse field of 3-year-olds. The final time was 1:48.33.

Patrioticandproud ($10.50) was coming off a second in the Victoria Park Stakes behind stablemate Prospective, who subsequently won the Ohio Derby. Trained by Mark Casse, Patrioticandproud earned $90,000 for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber.

Casse said Patrioticandproud ran deceptively well last winter on the grass at Gulfstream and is better suited to the more expansive Woodbine course.

“This horse doesn’t have a quick turn of foot,” Casse said. “He’s more of a grinder, and they’re better off here with the longer stretch.”