PINK LLOYD keeps on rolling
Toronto Ont. July 14, 2019. Woodbine Racetrack. Jockey Eurico Da Silva guides Pink Lloyd to victory in the $125,000 dollar Vigil Stakes at Woodbine for owner Entourage Stable and trainer Robert Tiller. Michael Burns photo
Not a lot has changed in the last few years when it comes to sprinting stakes races at Woodbine. It’s PINK LLOYD and then an assorted group of guys who have been chasing him all these years, including his stablemate Circle of Friends. Who he has been racing against doesn’t much matter these days as the chestnut gelding by Old Forester is running fast and is as good as he has ever been.
Entourage Stable’s popular Pinky posted a 100 Beyer Speed Figure on Sunday, 6 furlongs 1:08.68, when winning his third Grade 3 Vigil Stakes, the first horse to win three editions of that race. Pink Lloyd is 3 for 3 this year, was 5 for 8 last year and 8 for 8 the year before.
Remarkable.
He has 19 wins from 24 starts and two of his career losses came late last fall when troubles with bleeding caught up to him. Trainer Bob Tiller and his team have done a great job keeping Pink Lloyd healthy this year.
With regular reinsman Eurico Rosa Da Silva aboard and carrying 127 pounds, the most of his career, Pink Lloyd broke sharp from the inside post and settled back in third-place as Sable Island and Wyatt’s Town battled on top through opening panels of :22.36 and :56.50 in the $125,000 main track event. In just a matter of strides coming off the turn, Pink Lloyd reeled in the front-runners then opened up 4-1/2 lengths en route to victory.
“I was just sitting behind the speed and, you know, he was running so different today, like way more relaxed than usual,” said Da Silva. “And when I asked him, you know, I’ve never felt an explosion [like that]. I’ve been riding for 30 years. This horse just explodes turning home. When I ask him, he responds so fast. He’s an unbelievable horse.”
The victory led Tiller to exclaim, “He’s the greatest sprinter there ever was in Canada,” stated Tiller. “I’ve been doing this for 50 years, I’ve been around here for a little bit.”
Certainly Pink Lloyd is one of the greatest modern-day sprinters from Canada but let’s not forget horses such as PLAY THE KING won graded stakes in the US and was second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint to the talented Gulch. FATAL BULLET is another sprinter named Horse of the year who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
But as far as at Woodbine and on Tapeta (he’s never tried grass or dirt) Pink Lloyd is the boss around these parts. There may be some more speeches coming from his team come the Sovereign Awards next April:
“He might just win Horse of the Year again this year, it’s very possible. And you know, he’s never been better. I don’t want to shoot off my mouth because as soon as you open your mouth, you end up eating your words, but he’s never been better. Eurico rode him terrifically today. He’s a monster. He’s more relaxed than he’s ever been. We’ve made some adjustments with him this year and it’s working so far. I thank the good Lord. He’s a wonderful animal and I will never forget him.”
More Woodbine:
Several more trainers won their first races of the season continuing pattern of races being won by a variety of small and large stables. Renaldo Holder send out his first winner since 2016 when first-time starter COPINSAY (Island in Scotland) came from post 12 to win his debut under jockey Keveh Nicholls, also winning his first race at Woodbine. The beginner was a $10,000 yearling purchase and he is by Old Forester.
The gelding won nearly $30,000 as an Ontario-bred and sired horse winning that maiden optional.
Meanwhile on the same afternoon (Sunday) MEET CUTE, an Ontario bred owned and bred by Frank DiGiulio Jr. jumped up from a maiden optional race to win a maiden allowance and take home nearly $50,000 for the win.
Since the beginning of the season when much complaining was done about money available for Ontario sired or bred horses, there has been a great deal of cash given out to OS types who win maiden optionals and then ultimately end up racing in open for low claiming.
WOODBINE WINNING BEYER SPEED FIGURES FROM DAILY RACING FORM
100 PINK LLOYD
91 RECONFIGURE
88 SPANISH EXPRESS
86 PAMINA
85 OLYMPIC RUNNER
84 WESTERN TROUBLE
82 ROSEBUD’S HOPE
82 CHARMAINE’S MIA
ASSINIBOIA DOWNS
Hidden Grace continues to dominate, 5 for 5
Hidden Grace wins $30,000 R. C. Anderson Stakes Saturday night at ASD for trainer Mike Nault, owner-breeders Cam Ziprick, Barry Arnason & Charles Fouiilard, jockey Renaldo Cumberbatch & groom Laura Garrett.
CAM ZIPRICK and Laura Garrett
ZIPRICK told Thoroughblog he does not know how good the filly is when asked if she is the next Escape Clause (who held on for 2nd in the Delaware handicap last weekend behind Elate).
HIDDEN GRACE is by the same sire as Escape Clause, 19-year-old Going Commando who is semi-retired from breeding. The dam is by Pioneering, Hidden Pioneer. There is a full sister to Hidden Grace in the upcoming CTHS Manitoba sale.
HE’S THE REASON TAKES LT GOVERNORS AT HASTINGS PARK
Catchacougar wins 2yo stake, beats colts in Spaghetti Mouse
from Derby Bar & Grill Nigel Reid
Glen Todd and his team have kept their faith in He’s the Reason. That the four-year-old son of The Factor possessed plenty of talent was not in doubt. However, for one reason or another, the desired big-race win remained tantalizingly out of reach. Until Sunday, that is.
Now, following an athletic, front-running display under Richard Hamel to land the prestigious Lieutenant Governors’ Handicap, He’s The Reason has repaid that faith handsomely, not to mention the $50,000 he cost as a Keeneland September yearling back in 2016.
The BC CTHS yearling catalogue is now on-line.
