Bob Tiller | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘He’s A Legend’: Pink Lloyd, The People’s Champion, Finds His Forever Home

It was a banner day, literally and figuratively, for the beloved champion and those who had gathered to welcome him to his new home.

The racing rockstar received the warmest of receptions on a cloudy, chilly day at the expansive 100-acre farm in Erin, Ontario, the serene place where over 50 retired Thoroughbreds reside.

A banner heralding Pink Lloyd's arrival waved as the striking chestnut stepped off the van after the 50-minute trek from trainer Robert Tiller's barn on the Woodbine backstretch.

Over one of Canadian racing's most remarkable careers, 'Pinky' made a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to watch him race and the many more who tracked his numerous exploits.

At his new home base with LongRun, one of the continent's most respected horse retirement and adoption organizations, and the first industry-funded adoption program in Canada, he made an impactful first impression on a new group of admirers.

“The second he walked off the trailer, he struck a pose,” said Lauren Millet-Simpson, LongRun's farm manager. “He knows he's special. He's a true professional. He took everything in stride. He knows he's important, but at the same time, he's a gentleman. He likes the attention, but he's also super respectful. It will be really cool to work with a horse like that.”

His entourage on that early December morning at LongRun included Frank Di Giulio, Jr, one of Canadian racing's highest profile owners and lead member of Pink Lloyd's ownership group, Entourage Stable.

Seeing the nine-year-old son of Old Forester settle in nicely to his new surroundings was yet another special moment for Di Giulio.

“He received a great welcome. To see how he was welcomed, the support he's received the last few days, it's overwhelming that's he been so well loved from all over. It's nice to know he'll be at a place where he'll be well looked after, so appreciated, and be able to enjoy himself.”

For Pink Lloyd's connections, it was yet another fairytale ending for the future Canadian Horse Racing Hall of fame inductee.

Less than a week earlier at Woodbine, Pink Lloyd put the finishing touches on an outstanding career with a brilliant score in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes.

Charging hard down the lane, he roused the crowd to its feet as they feted the decorated star with a chorus of cheers at the wire and then as he made his way to the winner's circle.

Smiles, tears and the highest of praise awaited Pink Lloyd.

“I think it's amazing,” said Tiller in his Kennedy Road post-race interview. “You know, he's a legend. He proved today he was a legend. I didn't think he'd win today. It looked awful tough to me and the only thing I liked was all the speed in the race because I've been saying all along, and not too many people listened, but he loves to run at horses. I was just hoping Rafi [jockey, Rafael Hernandez] would get room. I said at the head of the lane, 'You know what? Here he comes.' We're blessed to win this race and it's a tremendous way to go out. You know he's been Woodbine's horse and he's been Canada's horse.”

It was fitting ending to a racing life that yielded 29 wins, 26 of them stakes, three seconds and two thirds, from 38 starts, 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year honours and over $2.4 million (CDN) in earnings.

His numerous triumphs include four straight (2017-2020) champion male sprinter trophies and a pair of champion older male titles in 2017 and 2019.

In 2017, Pink Lloyd won all eight of his engagements, en route to his Horse of the Year title. He won four consecutive editions of the Vigil Stakes and Jacques Cartier Stakes, along with three triumphs in the Shepperton, Kenora and Kennedy Road.

Not bad for a $30,000 purchase at the 2013 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.

[Story Continues Below]

Bred by John Carey, Pink Lloyd's popularity isn't likely to wane even though his days of taking on the best sprinters in Canada are over.

The crowd-pleasing gelding will continue to draw big crowds on a new stage.

“I hope people take advantage of it,” said Di Giulio. “I hope he is a nice attraction for LongRun and brings attention to what they do. It really is a win-win for everybody. He's so well loved. Even if people don't know a lot about horse racing, they've heard who Pink Lloyd is. Hopefully, he can attract new fans as well. To see him right up-close, that's a rare chance for a lot of people.”

Photo opportunities with Pink Lloyd for those who visit LongRun won't be an issue for the sought-after celebrity.

“He stands for photos like he knows what he's doing,” noted Di Giulio.

A picture-perfect horse for an organization that continues to play a major role in the welfare of retired Thoroughbreds.

“He is so relaxed and chill,” said Millet-Simpson. “He's never been here before and he doesn't know who I am. I'm holding him, his head is up and he's so proud. He just calmly looked around, took in his surroundings, checked out everything… you can tell how super intelligent he is in the way he looked around when he first got here, checking things out to see what was happening. To have a horse like him with us, it's just wonderful.”

Pink Lloyd's connections, which also includes assistant trainer Tom Lottridge and groom Michelle Gibson, might have to stand in line to reconnect with their beloved horse, but none of them perceive it as a negative.

Knowing that racing fans, young and old, new to the game or longtime supporters, can meet one of the sport's true talents face-to-face, is an honour for those closest to him.

“He's going to be here for many, many years to come,” started Di Giulio. “I'm biased, but I think he's one of the greatest Canadian-breds ever, especially, Ontario-sired, I'm proud of that too. What he's accomplished and his longevity, I think that's what makes any athlete great, is when they can do it over and over again. The Gordie Howes and the Wayne Gretzkys, that's exactly what they did. I think that makes him so special. Knowing he's going to be well looked after is really very comforting. I don't think we could have ended his career any better than the way he did. We got to race him for a long time and watched him accomplish so many great things, so now other people can have their chance to see what it's like to be so up-close with him.”

A rare opportunity, offered Millet-Simpson, to make a connection, even for a brief moment, with a Canadian horse racing icon.

“Fans, they see these horses on the track, but now they get to see this beautiful horse and feed him a carrot. You don't get to do that very often. So, that personal interaction with a great champion, I think it's going to be very cool for people, something they will always remember.”

The post ‘He’s A Legend’: Pink Lloyd, The People’s Champion, Finds His Forever Home appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Canadian Star Pink Lloyd to be Retired After Kennedy Road

In the all-good-things-must-come-to-an-end department, the venerable 9-year-old Ontario-bred Pink Lloyd (Old Forester) will make his final career start in Saturday's GII Kennedy Road S. at Woodbine, trainer Bob Tiller has announced.

“He's getting old, like me,” Tiller said. “What does he have to prove? I just don't want to put him out there against the very best anymore. He deserves to be retired. He was never going to go out there and run in $20,000 claimers. The decision has been made and we will stick to it. It's been a great run.”

Win or lose Saturday, Pink Lloyd has put together one of the more remarkable careers in the history of Canadian racing. He goes into the Kennedy Road, a race he won in 2017 and 2019, with 28 career victories from 37 starts and 25 stakes wins. All of his races have been at Woodbine. When converted to U.S. dollars, his career earnings stand at $1,786,083.

“He's the angel from heaven,” Tiller said. “He's the Muhammad Ali of all the horses I've trained over the years and I've been doing this for 48 years here at Woodbine. He's the man. He's the king. Anytime you find another horse who has won 25 stakes and 28 times you let me know about it.”

Pink Lloyd was purchased for $30,000 at the 2013 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling sale by owner Frank Di Giulio, Jr. He didn't make his first start until his 4-year-old year. He went three-for-five that year, but the best was yet to come. At five, he went eight-for-eight in 2017 and was named Canadian Horse of the Year.

Tiller campaigned him carefully. He never ran on the turf, outside of Canada or in any races longer than seven furlongs. The reward was more than five years of sustained excellence. He was named the champion male sprinter in Canada every year from 2017 through 2020. He was also named champion older horse in 2017 and champion older dirt male in 2019.

“I'll tell you what makes him so great–heart and desire and liking what he's doing and wanting to win,” Tiller said. “He goes after horses and he did that from day one. On day one, we put a horse three-four lengths in front of him and he'd blow by them by the time he hit the turns. He always wanted to do it.”

Following his last race, Pink Lloyd will be sent to the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society in nearby Hillsburgh, Ontario.

“I have so much respect for this animal” Tiller said. “I say that truthfully. I have tremendous respect and love for this animal and we don't want to do anything that would make him look bad.”

Pink Lloyd is being retired at a point where he is still competing at a high level. He's two-for-four on the year and is coming off back-to-back wins in the GIII Bold Venture S. and the Ontario Jockey Club S. But he may not have been at his best in the Ontario Jockey Club, where he had to fight to win by a neck as the odds-on favorite.

Since the Kennedy Road is for open company, it figures to be a tough race for the 9-year-old. While Tiller would like to see him go out with a win, he said there are more important things than one more victory.

“I'm looking forward to this race, but it's not a matter of life and death,” he said. “He's been beaten before for different reasons. Every great horse gets beat. At end of the day, it's more important for him to come back from the race safe and sound.”

The post Canadian Star Pink Lloyd to be Retired After Kennedy Road appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Seven-Time Sovereign Award Winner Pink Lloyd Kicks Off 2021 Campaign Sunday At Woodbine

Multiple stakes champion and fan favourite Pink Lloyd goes after his fifth straight Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes crown, Sunday at Woodbine, part of a 12-race card that also features the $125,000 Woodstock Stakes.

A seven-time Sovereign award winner, including Horse of the Year honours in 2017 and four straight (2017-2020) Male Sprinter titles, Pink Lloyd, owned by Entourage Stable and trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Robert Tiller, will launch his 9-year-old campaign in a race he has dominated since 2017.

With regular rider Rafael Hernandez on the sidelines after an injury suffered in an opening day spill on June 12, Daisuke Fukumoto will take the reins of the speedy son of Old Forester in the $150,000 Jacques Cartier.

Tiller, who has campaigned the ultra consistent chestnut since his first start in 2016, will take a race-to-race approach with Pink Lloyd this season.

“You're dealing with a 9-year-old,” said Tiller, who won the first race of the 2021 Woodbine Thoroughbred meet with Five Days in May. “This horse, his career will be over this year at some time. He will be retired this year. He's been a wonderful animal, he's earned over $2 million, and he loves racing. He's happy and he's sound right now – that's why he's running. We're going to take it one start at a time and make a decision after each start.”

Bred by John Carey, Pink Lloyd launched his career five years ago, winning his first three races, including a victory in his debut on August 28, 2016, a 1 ½-length score over six furlongs on the Woodbine main track.

The veteran campaigner hasn't missed a beat since then, racking up a slew of stakes triumphs while filling his connections' trophy cases with hard-earned hardware.

“We have a lot of challenges for this race,” noted Tiller. “He carries high weight again. If he runs a good race like he did in his last race of 2020, I'll be happy and we'll see how he comes out of it. The horse is doing well and he has every right to run in this race.”

When Pink Lloyd is retired, he'll be sent to LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society to enjoy his post-racing life.

As Tiller noted last year, “He'll be a movie star there after being a rock star on the racetrack.”

Other contenders include Wesley Ward trainee Joker On Jack, 2020 Jacques Cartier runner-up Malibu Secret, Zilli Racing Stables' 5-year-old Readyforprimetime, Live Oak Plantation homebred Souper Stonehenge, and stakes winner Dixie's Gamble.

Listed at 25-1 in the Queen's Plate Winterbook, Derzkii, a 3-year-old son of Frac Daddy, will make his 2021 debut in the Woodstock Stakes, traditionally a key prep on the road to Canada's most famous horse race.

Owned by Fieldstone Farms Inc., and trained by Carlos Grant, the two-time winner from six starts closed out his 2-year-old campaign with back-to-back scores, on October 18 and November 12.

Grant saw potential in Derzkii early on, but waited until after the dark bay's first race to see if his confidence was warranted.

“Some of them will fool you, so you just have to wait until they start racing. When he was a yearling, he'd be running around the paddock like a madman. There would be ice and everything in the paddock, and he'd be going like a madman. I always told my wife and my brother-in-law, 'He's a freak.' Nothing will faze him. That's what you want in a horse.

“He just can't stand it when you leave him in his stall. I have to train him first in the morning and when he comes off the track, he's still full of energy. He's got no shortage of energy. He's a beautiful horse to be around.”

After a third, fourth, fifth and second to begin his career, Derzkii, bred by Megan Allan and Lesley Kraus, hit his best stride in his past two performances.

Grant was thoroughly pleased with his rookie campaign.

“He had a beautiful year. He came out of all the races very happy and he showed us all what he could do out there. I usually give my horses three days off, depending on how they come out of the race, but he was ready and raring to go again the day after his races. During his training, I realized he wanted to go further. After every work, I would say, 'This guy wants to go long.' In his third start, I noticed him looking around, so we put the blinkers on. We made that adjustment and that was all he needed.”

This will be the second stakes appearance for Derzkii, who finished fourth in the 2020 Simcoe Stakes.

His connections are hoping it's the start of even bigger things to come.

“I dream about it [Queen's Plate] every day, every single minute,” said Grant. “Racing in the Plate would be a dream come true. We have to keep our fingers crossed.”

The field showcases stakes winners Chasing Artie, Jaxon Traveler, Master Spy, and Outadore, along with multiple stakes placed Sky's Not Falling, and Saturday George, who broke his maiden with an impressive turf triumph last September at Woodbine.

FIELD FOR THE JACQUES CARTIER

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Joker On Jack – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Wesley Ward

2 – Pink Lloyd – Daisuke Fukumoto – Robert Tiller

3 – Malibu Secret – Kazushi Kimura – Martin Drexler

4 – Readyforprimetime – Justin Stein – Michael De Paulo

5 – Souper Stonehenge – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

6 – Dixie's Gamble – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

FIELD FOR THE WOODSTOCK

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Chasing Artie – Kazushi Kimura – Wesley Ward

2 – Outadore – Justin Stein – Wesley Ward

3 – Saturday George – David Moran – Michael De Paulo

4 – Jaxon Traveler – Luis Contreras – Steve Asmussen

5 – Sky's Not Falling – Gary Boulanger – Michael Trombetta

6 – Derzkii – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Carlos Grant

7 – Master Spy – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

The Jacques Cartier is scheduled as race seven. The Woodstock goes as race 10. First post is 1:20 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIBet.com.

The post Seven-Time Sovereign Award Winner Pink Lloyd Kicks Off 2021 Campaign Sunday At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Fourth Win In Vigil Pushes Canadian Icon Pink Lloyd Over $2-Million Mark

Canadian racing icon Pink Lloyd took the biggest slice of the pie and boosted his cash stash past the $2-million mark in career earnings with another winning effort in Grade 3 Vigil Stakes on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Trained by Canadian Hall of Famer Robert Tiller, Pink Lloyd nearly matched his own track record on the Tapeta, sprinting six furlongs in 1:08.06. He came within one hundredth of a second of his mark while carrying 128 pounds.

Track announcer Robert Geller called it one of the best starts of his career as the popular chestnut gelding broke well from post seven with a head in front early. He settled into stalking position behind a quartet of early leavers before making his winning move on the final turn for Rafael Hernandez.

Pink Lloyd rallied home a clear winner with Olympic Runner, who finished a neck back in their last Grade 3 Bold Venture match-up, closing from the backfield for the runner-up honors once again.

City Boy, among the dueling front-runners through early fractions of :21.97 and :43.92, finished 1-1/2 lengths behind in third and just a half-length in front of Eskiminzin, Malibu Secret, Blind Ambition and Roaring Forties. Silent Jimmie and Not So Quiet completed the order of finish.

“He's so dear to my heart. We believe in him so much,” said Tiller, though admitting he was the most nervous he's been in a long time today. “He's going to get two months off now and he deserves it. We'll be back in the fall.”

Bred in Ontario by John Carey and owned by Entourage Stable, the gelded son of Old Forester is now four-for-four during his eight-year-old campaign and has won 26 of his 31 starts lifetime.

He previously reeled off 11 consecutive victories from 2017 into 2018, and is currently riding a 10-race win streak following a perfect season in 2019.

The newly minted double millionaire boasts a record four Vigil Stakes victories, six Sovereign Awards, and a total of 23 stakes wins among his accomplishments. Taking the $90,000 winner's share of the purse, he now has $2,066,330 in career earnings.

“I don't think you're going to find another horse like him again. He's a Canadian racing icon,” said Tiller. “This is a true, true champion. And I've said it many times, I just love him to death and he just keeps amazing me.”

Send postward as the 4-5 favourite, Pink Lloyd paid $3.80 to win.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues this long weekend at Woodbine, with post time set for 1 p.m. on both Sunday and Labour Day Monday.

The post Fourth Win In Vigil Pushes Canadian Icon Pink Lloyd Over $2-Million Mark appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post