The familiar silks of American owner Mike Repole crossed the finish line in front in the Toronto Cup Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, September 3. Repole, whose Bright Future won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga, is co-owner along with St. Elias Stable of the filly LOVE TO SHOP, who beat the boys in the one-mile turf race worth $127,000.
Love to Shop is the first filly to win the Toronto Cup, a race for three-year-olds in its 118th year, since the great Carotene won it in 1986 for Kinghaven Farms and trainer Roger Attfield. Before Carotene it was the brilliant mare Ice Water who beat the boys in the Cup in 1966 for Gardiner Farms.
A daughter of Violence – Tiffany Case, by Uncle Mo, Love to Shop came to trainer Kevin Attard at Woodbine in July off a maiden win in a six furlong turf sprint at Belmont Park for trainer Todd Pletcher. The filly’s first run in Ontario saw her finish third in the Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3) with Emma-Jayne Wilson riding.
Wilson was back on board for the Toronto Cup, a race seemingly held by Mark Casse who had favoured Conman, winner of the Hamilton Stakes, and Lifetime of Chance and Eyes on the King in the field.
But Love to Shop came from more than half a dozen lengths off a strong pace set by Eyes on the King, got past Conman who made a move to the lead into the stretch, and pulled clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:34.14. Love to Shop now has two wins from five races. She was bred by D J Stable, which coincidentally owns Conman.
Trainer Attard was not at Woodbine for the Toronto Cup as he was saddling Last Call and Milagra del Sol in the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs. Last Call closed ground to finish fourth in that race, earning $47,900.
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