TORONTO, August 30, 2025 – Church and State, under Eswan Flores, got up in the final strides to take the $125,000 Toronto Cup Stakes Presented by Crown Royal, Saturday at Woodbine. Arriving at the one-mile Toronto Cup off a fourth in a seven-furlong allowance race over the E.P. Taylor turf on August 8, Church and State, trained by Dale Desruisseaux, produced his second overall stakes success – and first on grass – in the race for 3-year-olds contested over the inner turf. Garden of War, supplemented to the race, and stablemate Cyclonite set the early tone, with the former leading the field of 11 through an opening panel in :23.78, while Flores settled Church and State, winner of this year’s King Corrie Stakes in May, into ninth the early going. Garden of War continued to lead the way, but his advantage over Cyclonite was trimmed to a half-length through a half in :47.32. Church and State, who had improved to sixth, rounded the turn for home with 978 feet left to reel in his rivals. After ranging up five-wide, the roan gelding was nearly on even terms with about 100 yards to the line and finally struck front with less than 50 yards to go, en route to a half-length win. Thundering, last year’s Display Stakes winner, was second, a half-length ahead of Cyclonite. The final time over firm going was 1:36.19. Church and State and jockey Eswan Flores winning the Toronto Cup on August 30, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “It was my first time getting on [the horse],” said Flores. “Me and Dale did talk about it. And, of course, I know the horse well from past races. So, I’ve always had an idea of what kind of horse he is.” “His last couple of races, there has just been no pace,” said Desruisseaux. “Even in the Marine (fifth, on June 28), he had to make a kind of sustained half-mile run, and that’s not really his style. He’s got a good quarter-mile kick and today, it worked out. I don’t necessarily think turf or Poly is any advantage or disadvantage to him. I just think he needs the actual trip.” Owned by Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc., the son of Caravaggio out of the Vindication mare Full Snow Moon posted a pair of wins to launch his career in the latter stages of 2024. Bred in Kentucky by DP Racing, LLC, Church and State was a $15,000 purchase at the Keeneland Association January 2023 Horses of All Ages sale. Now 4-0-1 from seven starts, he returned $47.70 for the Toronto Cup win. Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
