Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Pink Lloyd points to Vigil next
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pink Lloyd had his 11-race win streak snapped with a thirdplace finish in the Shepperton Stakes on July 8, and will now look to start a new win streak. His next start will likely be in Woodbine’s Grade 3, $125,000 Vigil Stakes over six furlongs on Tapeta for 3-year-olds and upward July 29.
Trainer Robert Tiller said Pink Lloyd has been training regularly since his start in the Shepperton, and while no final decision has been made, the connections were pointing toward the Vigil. Pink Lloyd breezed four furlongs in 48.80 seconds on the main track Sunday morning.
Another option for Pink Lloyd could be the Aug. 29 $100,000 Kenora Stakes over six furlongs on Tapeta, a race that is restricted to local yearling sale graduates.
Pink Lloyd broke sharply under jockey Eurico Da Silva in the Shepperton, but was pressed by Boreal Spirit throughout the early portions of the race. He put that rival away in the stretch, but couldn’t hold off Kingsport, and was nosed out of the place position by Jacks Escarpment.
Despite the loss, Tiller said the connections were thrilled with Pink Lloyd’s streak. Pink Lloyd now sports a career record of 14 wins from 17 starts, and has won two graded stakes, including last season’s Vigil Stakes.
“We’re very proud of what he’s doing,” Tiller said. “We knew that day was coming. The main thing is the horse, and the horse is fine.”
Attard notches 2,000th win
Trainer Sid Attard had a big weekend at Woodbine, recording his 2,000th training victory in North America on Sunday when Lady of Moray won the ninth race on the card.
Of those 2,000 wins, 103 have been stakes victories. Attard’s most recent stakes win came July 8 in the Shepperton Stakes, when Kingsport upset Pink Lloyd to snap the Canadian Horse of the Year’s 11-race win streak.
Prior to the 6 1/2-furlong Shepperton, Kingsport had made his last three starts around two turns, including a fourth-place finish in the Steady Growth Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on June 16. Despite the cutback in distance, Kingsport closed strongly down the stretch to win the Shepperton for the second time. He previously won the race back in 2016.
“It doesn’t matter where you run him,” Attard said. “Two turns or short, he’ll do anything, this horse. Whatever you find, you’ve got to run. You don’t find races any time you want.”
Attard said he would like to keep Kingsport in restricted company. Unlike Pink Lloyd, Kingsport is not nominated to next weekend’s Grade 3 Vigil Stakes, which means he may not run again until Canadian
Millions Sales Stakes Day on Aug. 29.
With his versatility, Kingsport could run in either the $100,000 Kenora Stakes over six furlongs, or the $100,000 Elgin Stakes over 1 1/16 miles. Of his six stakes wins, three have come in route races, and three have come in sprints.
Are You Kidding Me to Seagram
Are You Kidding Me began his 2018 campaign with back-toback wins, including a victory in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes on May 26, before running third behind stablemate Tiz a Slam in the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes over 1 1/4 miles at Woodbine on July 1.
He’ll make his next start Aug. 12 in the Grade 3, $125,000 Seagram Cup Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, trainer Roger Attfield said.
Attfield said Are You Kidding Me has come out of the Dominion Day in good order. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.00 on the main track on Sunday morning.
“He’s just a tough old horse,” Attfield said. “He trains the same just about every day.”
Are You Kidding Me has run in the Seagram Cup once before, finishing second to Breaking Lucky in 2016. That year was the same season Are You Kidding Me earned Canadian champion older male honors.
A win in the Seagram Cup could add on to Are You Kidding Me’s résumé toward champion older male again this season. While there is plenty of racing action left in the season, the early front-runners for the award are him and Tiz a Slam, who built off of his win in the Dominion Day by capturing the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes on turf Sunday.