Are You Kidding Me vs. Melmich again

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Are You Kidding Me and Melmich will put two different winning streaks on the line Sunday when they meet up again in the Grade 3, $125,000 Dominion Day Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta at Woodbine.

Are You Kidding Me will be looking for his third consecutive victory of his 2018 campaign in the Dominion Day. Melmich, meanwhile, will be looking to record his third consecutive win in the Dominion Day Stakes.

The Dominion Day is one of three stakes on the Canada Day card at Woodbine, which also includes the $225,000 Bison City and the $100,000 Zadracarta.

Are You Kidding Me started his season off with an allowance win at Woodbine on May 5 and followed that up with a victory in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes here on May 26. Both races were at 1 1/16 miles.

“He’s still very good,” trainer Roger Attfield said of the 8-year-old. “I had him ready for Keeneland and didn’t get to run him there. I had him primed up pretty good. I would have been very surprised if he hadn’t won his first start here.”

In 38 career starts, Are You Kidding Me has gone 1 1/4 miles just three times, including a second and a third in the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes on turf. He finished third behind Melmich and Gigantic Breeze in this event last year, and Attfield doesn’t expect him to have a problem handling the distance on Sunday.

Melmich finished second to Are You Kidding Me in both of his starts this year, but trainer Kevin Attard said the added distance should be to Melmich’s benefit.

“I’d expected him to move forward,” Attard said.

KEY CONTENDERS

Are You Kidding Me, by Run Away and Hide Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-96

◗ Attfield said Are You Kidding Me has been training well. He breezed four furlongs in 48 seconds on June 26.

Melmich, by Wilko Last 3 Beyers: 94-91-85

◗ After reeling off five straight wins to begin his 2017 campaign, he has now run second in four consecutive starts.

◗ He’s worked three times since the Eclipse Stakes, including a four-furlong breeze in 47.80 seconds on the dirt training track here on June 26.

Gigantic Breeze, by Giant’s Causeway Last 3 Beyers: 93-64-97

◗ He set the pace before fading to third in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes in his first start of the year.

◗ He’s been among the top runners in the older male division recently, and upset Melmich in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes over 1 1/8 miles last November.

Tiz a Slam, by Tiznow Last 3 Beyers: 82-93-89

◗ Five of his last seven starts have come on turf, but some of his best running as a 3-year-old in 2017 came on Tapeta.

◗ He was close to the pace early but faded to fifth in the Eclipse, his first start of the meet.