Five Iron took command out of the gate and would not be denied a front-running victory by 1 1/4 lengths in the $150,709 Victoria Park Stakes for 3-year-olds June 16 at Woodbine (VIDEO).
Trained by Robert Martin for owner/breeder Fred Allor, Five Iron came into the 1 1/8-mile Polytrack event off of a third-place finish in the Marine Stakes, a neck behind Victoria Park rival Winning Cause.
Winning Cause, the 2-5 betting favorite in the field of four, trailed under rider Eurico Da Silva as Five Iron, piloted by Luis Contreras, recorded splits of :24.87, :49.15, and 1:12.90 with Sweet Little Man and Bear Fabulous Son stalking the pace.
Five Iron continued to lead on the far turn as da Silva urged Winning Cause into contention, but the chestnut lugged in down the lane and could not get past a resurgent Five Iron, who was taken in hand by Contreras approaching the wire in a winning time of 1:50.38. Winning Cause was second by 4 1/4 lengths over Sweet Little Man.
"He was nice and relaxed today," Contreras said. "I had a lot of horse at the end. We ran a little bit outside at the end, but I was clear."
Five Iron, a son of Sharp Humor out of the Thunder Gulch mare Tee Off, started his 2013 campaign on the green at Keeneland when sixth in an allowance route April 10. The chestnut then shipped to Woodbine where he finished a rallying second when sprinting in the Woodstock Stakes April 21. His next start came in the Marine, where he was third to Queen's Plate favorite Up With the Birds.
The Victoria Park score marks the second victory in nine career starts for Five Iron, who ran his earnings to $216,610.
Under 117 pounds, Five Iron returned $6.90, pairing with Winning Cause for an $11 exacta. There was no place or show wagering.
Five Iron wins the Victoria Park Stakes.
Michael Burns