TORONTO, August 27, 2025 – Eleven hopefuls, including Kevin Attard trainees Boca Queen (IRE) and Hammerhead, will contest the $125,000 Toronto Cup Stakes Presented by Crown Royal, Saturday at Woodbine. A daughter of Kingman (GB) out of the Big Bad Bob (IRE) mare Bocca Baciata (IRE), Boca Queen heads into the one-mile inner turf test for 3-year-olds off a pair of starts, including a fourth-place effort last time out in the Ontario Colleen (G3T) on July 26. Sent off as the 8-5 choice in the eight-horse field, the Repole Stable filly got off a step slowly and was guided five to six wide for the stretch run before finishing 4 ½ lengths behind the winner. “It was a bit disappointing,” said Attard. “To be fair, it was a step up in what was her second career start, and first at the stakes level. The tools are definitely there – she looks the part, and she is learning more and more each day. The pessimist would say we expected a different outcome, and the optimist would say that the signs tell us she is ready to move forward from that effort.” Bred by Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd., Boca Queen (IRE), unraced at 2, debuted on July 5 at Woodbine. After hopping at the start of the seven-furlong race, also contested on the E.P. Taylor turf, the dark bay settled into stride, going on to win by 3 ¼ lengths in 1:20.32 over firm ground. Boca Queen Boca Queen (IRE) and jockey Pietro Moran winning Race 10 on July 5, 2025 (Michael Burns Photo) “She had worked well coming into the race,” said Attard. “Obviously, not the start [to the race] you want to see, but Pietro (jockey, Moran) didn’t panic and was able to get her into a rhythm. Once she got underway, she looked comfortable and you could see she was determined to chase down the horses in front of her. “I thought the way she finished was extremely impressive. She galloped out well and came out of it well.” Boca Queen (IRE) breezed five panels in 1:00.40 over the Woodbine main track on August 20. “Being lightly raced, the more education she gets, the better,” said Attard. “We think she has a nice future ahead of her, but we’ll keep the focus on this race for now.” Purchased for €400,000 at the 2023 Goffs Orby Sale, Boca Queen (IRE) is a half-sister to listed winner and €775,000 Goffs November alumni Foniska. Rhiannon Parks is the groom. The well-traveled Hammerhead will make his fourth stakes start – and first at Woodbine – on Saturday. Owned by Gold Square LLC, the son of War Front out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Figarella’s Queen sports a 1-3-2 mark, along with $111,382 in purse earnings, from nine starts. The colt kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a third in the Dania Beach Stakes on January 1 at Gulfstream. He was sixth three months later in the Transylvania (G3T) at Keeneland and twelfth in the American Turf Stakes (G1T) on May 3. Hammerhead’s last two starts have come at Woodbine, yielding a third at 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf on June 21 and a hard charging second at one mile over the E.P. Taylor turf on August 3. Hammerhead and jockey Austin Adams winning Race 7 on October 27, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “I thought he ran well in both races here,” said Attard. “He got caught late in the first one, but he kept trying to the wire. The most recent race, he showed a really nice turn of foot late. He lugged in a bit down the lane, but all in all, it was a solid rally.” Bred in Kentucky by Glen Hill Farm, the dark bay was sixth, three lengths behind the winner, in his career bow on August 17, 2024, over the Saratoga inner turf. Third in his next engagement, at 1 1/16 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf, Hammerhead hammered out an impressive maiden-breaking score at one mile over the Toronto oval’s inner turf on October 27. “The one thing you know with this horse is that he will come running late,” said Attard. “When the jock gives him his cue, he takes off and runs with a lot of determination. Hopefully, there is some speed for him to run at.” Hammerhead breezed four furlongs in :47.60 over the main track on August 23. “He’s doing great coming into the race,” noted Attard. “He’s won on the inner here before, so we know he feels comfortable running on it. We like how he’s coming into it.” Hammerhead was a $225,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale. Hopeton Francis is the groom. Attard, who has 869 career wins, won the 2023 edition of the Toronto Cup with Love to Shop. Jockey Todd Kabel, who passed away in 2021, won seven editions of the Toronto Cup, including five straight from 2003-07. Dual hall of famer trainer Mark Casse has sent out six winners, the most recent coming in 2020 with Proven Strategies. Saturday’s first post is 1:05 p.m. ET. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. The wagering menu for the race includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, $1 Swinger. Field for the Toronto Cup Stakes – Race 8 Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Boca Queen (IRE) – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard 2 – Thundering – Rico Walcott – Patrick Dixon 3 – Here I Go – Daisuke Fukumoto – Warren LeBlanc 4 – Forty N Five – Fraser Aebly – Josie Carroll 5 – Autobahn Ace – Leo Salles – Pat Parente 6 – Wagstaff – Jose Campos – Nathan Squires 7 – Special Session – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 8 – Church and State – Eswan Flores – Dale Desruisseaux 9 – Cyclonite – Ryan Munger – Mark Casse 10 – Garden of War (S) – Pietro Moran – Mark Casse 11 – Hammerhead – Sahin Civaci – Kevin Attard Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
