War Bomber Tops Them All In Toronto Cup

TORONTO, ON – At odds of 19/1, War Bomber drew away down the lane to pull off the upset in Sunday’s $134,800 Toronto Cup, contested over Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Leaving from post 3, War Bomber, a 3-year-old gelded son of War Front, was positioned in fourth along the rail by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan as the trio of Azzurro, Barnegat Light, and 9/5 choice Gretzky the Great tussled over the early lead.

Azzurro eventually struck the front, then took his eight rivals through an opening 1/4-mile timed in :23.69. The 49/1 outsider continued through a 1/2 in :46.74 with Barnegat Light second, Gretzky the Great third, and War Bomber fourth, waiting for his cue from Bridgmohan.

As the field rounded the turn for home, a pair of contending closers in Riptide Rock, second in the Queen’s Plate, and the ultra-consistent Artie’s Storm began to pick up momentum while Bridgmohan found a seam and roused War Bomber to the front.

Arriving at the Toronto Cup on a 2-race win streak, War Bomber easily rebuffed all challengers, going on to record a 2-length triumph in a time of 1:34.14 over firm ground.

Artie’s Storm was second, Riptide Rock was third, and Gretzky the Great finished fourth.

“I had a beautiful trip,” said Bridgmohan. “There was a little bit of speed in there and I opted to follow, obviously, at the end, try to find him clear daylight. Once I did and I pointed him for a hole, he just went. He’s a pretty talented horse and when he took off, he really took off. I knew there would have to be a horse flying to come and catch him.”

Trained by Norm McKnight for owner Bruno Schickedanz, War Bomber, making his stakes debut, now has 3 wins from 5 career starts. Unraced at 2, he launched his career with a tenth-place finish at Gulfstream in March, finishing seventh next time out at Woodbine.

The bay paid $41.30 for the win.