In a field of eight, Pink Lloyd and jockey Rafael Hernandez were fifth early in the G2 stakes, with Clayton and Richiesinthehouse 1-2 through a first quarter in :22.75 and a half-mile in :44.72. Around the far turn, Clayton had a length and a half lead, as Hernandez and Pink Lloyd had to go three-wide to find racing room as they entered the stretch.

Down the Woodbine straight, Pink Lloyd was driving down the center of the track, catching Richiesinthehouse and then passing Clayton in the race's waning yards. The legend was first under the wire, his last hurrah a victorious one.

The final time for the six furlongs was 1:08.84.

Pink Lloyd paid $9.40, $5.80, and $3.20. Richiesinthehouse paid $6.80 and $4.80. Clayton paid $4.60

Bred in Ontario by John Carey, Pink Lloyd is by Old Forester out of the Great Gladiator mare Gladiator Queen. He is owned by Entourage Stables and trained by Robert Tiller. Consigned by John Carey, the gelding was purchased by Frank Di Giulio, Jr., agent, for $28,446. With his win in the G2 Kennedy Road, a race he has won twice before, Pink Lloyd has three wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 29 wins in 37 starts.

The post Pink Lloyd Goes Out Victorious, Wins Kennedy Road In Final Start appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Campaigned by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Robert Tiller, 9-year-old Pink Lloyd is set to chase his 26^th career stakes victory in the Kennedy Road, a six-furlong main track test for 3-year-olds and upward, a race that he won in 2017 and 2019.

“We made a decision this week to retire him after this race,” said Tiller of the seven-time Sovereign Award-winning gelding, who was named Canada's Horse of the Year in 2017. “It will be a bit of a sad situation because all good things come to an end, but it's been an absolutely fantastic ride. To me, he's the greatest sprinter we've ever had at Woodbine. It's been a wonderful ride, with some sadness, but on the other hand it will be a big relief for me, certainly, because it's not easy training a horse like this where everyone expects him to win all the time.”

Owned by Entourage Stable and bred by John Carey, the son of Old Forester launched his career in 2016 with straight three straight victories.

It was only the beginning for Pink Lloyd, a $30,000 purchase at the 2013 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.

His trophy haul includes four consecutive (2017-2020) champion male sprinter trophies and a pair of champion older male titles in 2017 and 2019.

Pink Lloyd, who went 8-for-8 in 2017, won four consecutive editions of the Vigil Stakes and Jacques Cartier Stakes, along with three triumphs in both the Shepperton and Kenora.

The chestnut arrives at his final start off a win in the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes on November 7 at Woodbine. He brings a record of 28-3-2 from 37 starts, accompanied by over $2.3 million (CDN) in purse earnings, into the Kennedy Road.

“We're so proud of him,” said Tiller. “On one hand, it will be over, and I'll be very sad to see him get on the van and go, but I don't think anyone should shed too many tears because what he's done has been fantastic. We want to give him what he deserves.”

The fan favorite has built up an impressive following over his years on the racetrack.

That popularity will live on when he starts his post-racing life with LongRun, one of the continent's most respected horse retirement and adoption organizations.

He'll join over 50 retired thoroughbred horses at LongRun's farm in Erin, Ont., a little less than an hour's drive north of Woodbine.

“It's just an awesome privilege for LongRun to be chosen to give Pink Lloyd his happy retirement home,” said Vicki Pappas, a founding member and longtime chairperson of LongRun.

Michelle Gibson, Pink Lloyd's groom, will be a frequent visitor to the picturesque property.

“I have mixed emotions,” said Gibson, recipient of the Jockey Club of Canada's 2020 Outstanding Groom Award. “I'm elated that he is retiring but at the same time, I'm going to miss that face greeting me every morning. He deserves a happy life now. I would love to be there the first time he gets turned out in a huge paddock, just being a horse. Even though he will be gone from my stalls, he will never be gone from life. He is my heart horse.”

Regular rider Rafael Hernandez, a lifetime winner of over 2,800 races, continues to marvel at the veteran campaigner's ability to show up every time the gate opens.

He's hoping to end Pink Lloyd's racing career on a high note.

“When you ride him, you don't feel yourself going fast because he spends so much time in the air,” Hernandez recently told Woodbine. “He has a big, big stride. He's unbelievable… he's push button. When you're in a race car and you push the nose and say, 'Bye-bye,' that's him. When you turn for home and push the button, it's, 'Bye-bye, come and get me.' Every time I talk about him in an interview after the race, I tell them I am just a passenger. You need the horse to win the race. You can't say that you won the race. You need a good driver. With this horse, I am happy to be the driver.”

His connections are grateful to have been along for the thrill ride.

“He'll be a tourist attraction at LongRun now,” offered Tiller. “Vicki and her crew, they're going to love him, and he's going to be great for people to come out and see. I plan on being out there myself and having a few chats with him.”

They'll no doubt have plenty to talk about.

First post for Saturday's 11-race card is 12:55 p.m. The Kennedy Road goes as race eight. Fans can watch and wager on all the action with HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

To learn more about LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement click on the link.

$175,000 KENNEDY ROAD STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Lenny K – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
2 – Red River Rebel – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard
3 – Tap It to Win – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
4 – Clayton – Antonio Gallardo – Kevin Attard
5 – Pink Lloyd – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller
6 – Richiesinthehouse – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Francine Villeneuve
7 – Smokin' Jay – Shaun Bridgmohan – Kelsey Danner
8 – Souper Stonehenge – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
9 – Malibu Secret – Ademar Santos – Ross Armata, Jr.

The post ‘An Absolutely Fantastic Ride’: On Eve Of Final Start, Robert Tiller Reflects On Pink Lloyd’s Career appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

“There's definitely mixed feelings,” Tiller told the Daily Racing Form. “When it's all over, it will be a big sigh of relief. It hasn't been easy training this horse. I'll be happy for him and happy for everybody involved. I knew this day would come, and we've made the joint decision to retire him. All good things come to an end. He's not going to run as a 10-year-old against top horses. He's done enough. He's been amazing.”

A 28-time winner from his 37 starts thus far, the Entourage Stable-owned Pink Lloyd has current earnings of $1,786,083. He has earned seven Sovereign Awards over the past four years, including Canada's Horse of the Year title in 2017 when he put together a perfect 8-for-8 campaign. Tiller raced him exclusively over the main track at Woodbine, where the gelding's talents shone brightest.

This season, Pink Lloyd has left the starting gates four times, winning two and finishing second in the other two.

Among Pink Lloyd's victories are: G2 Kennedy Road (2017, 2019), G3 Bold Venture (2020, 2021), G3 Vigil (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), and the G3 Jacques Cartier (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post ‘All Good Things Come To An End’: Pink LLoyd Won’t Return To The Races In 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Patrick Husbands engineered the winning trip aboard the 5-2 second choice, Ride a Comet, who is now two-for-two since returning to action last month after a two-year layoff.

Multiple graded stakes winner Silent Poet sprinted out to lead the talented field of seven in the six-furlong Grade 2 stakes with Eskiminzin pressing through fractions of :22.77 and :44.79, while Souper Stonehenge and Dixie's Gamble stalked the pace.

Riding a 10-race win streak, even-money favorite Pink Lloyd raced outside of foes and staged a late rally from the four-path on the turn, but early trailer Ride a Comet gained ground along the rail and shot outside the front-runners in the stretch en route to a 1 1/4-length victory, with Live Oak Plantation's Souper Stonehenge finishing second under Emma-Jayne Wilson.

Owned by breeder My Meadowview Farm and John Oxley, the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride and Appealing Zophie came within one-fifth of a second of Pink Lloyd's track record, winning in 1:08.25.

Ride a Comet paid $6.90 to win and combined with 9-1 shot Souper Stonehenge for a 2-1 exacta worth $50.30 for a $2 ticket. Pink Lloyd was a game third, finishing two lengths behind the runner-up and just ahead of Silent Poet. Eskiminzin, Roaring Forties and Dixie's Gamble completed the field.

“He's my favorite horse of all time…He went a good race, he showed he's all class,” said Husbands, who was aboard for all four of Ride a Comet's Woodbine starts including his impressive two-length comeback victory here on October 16.

“The last time I rode him, it was the first time we sprint and his first time in two years going seven-eighths. And he broke sharp, you know, and I eased him back because it was his first time in a long time so after the race I said to Mark, 'he left there running and I eased him back.' He said 'alright, we're going against Pink Lloyd next start.'

“Pink Lloyd, you have to respect him. He's a legend at Woodbine, and it's a great honor to run against him and try to beat him. When you beat him, you've got to be really happy, but you have to respect him.”

Ride a Comet, who also won the Charlie Barley Stakes over one-mile of turf at Woodbine in 2018 with Husbands and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby over 1  1/8 miles later that year, now has seven wins from a dozen lifetime starts.

The post Ride A Comet Ends Pink Lloyd’s Winning Streak In Kennedy Road appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Multiple Sovereign Award recipient and 23-time stakes champion Pink Lloyd will seek to top the Kennedy Road charts for the third time, having won the event in 2017 and 2019.

Trained by Robert Tiller for Entourage Stable, the 8-year-old gelded son of Old Forester is unbeaten in four starts – all stakes – this year.

His latest tour de force was a victory in the Vigil Stakes (G3) on Sept. 5, an effort that pushed Pink Lloyd's career earnings over $2 million (CDN). It was also his fourth straight Vigil Crown.

Pink Lloyd launched his 2020 campaign with a triumph in the Jacques Cartier (G3) on June 25, followed by a win in the Shepperton Stakes on July 23, a Bold Venture (G3) score on Aug. 15, and a one-length win in the Vigil.

“We're both very happy,” said Tiller. “He's doing well. We haven't run for two-and-a-half months, so we're in new territory. That's the big question, 'Is it going to help him or is it going to hurt him?' He's eight, but I can't worry about all of that stuff. I've done my job and he's doing his job. I think he's in good order. There are going to be some tough horses in there, some tough competition. But as far as Pink Lloyd's concerned, it's a horse race. We're going into it very happy and I think he'll be very fit and happy. Hopefully, he's not too sharp because when he does, he sometimes can get a little goofy at the gate.”

Pink Lloyd previously reeled off 11 consecutive victories from 2017 into 2018, and is currently riding a 10-race win streak following an unblemished season in 2019. He has delivered his connections six Sovereign Awards.

Although coming up with more superlatives to describe the star of his barn isn't an easy task, Tiller finds a way.

“He's doing very, very well, and I expect a big race out of him. If you look at his record, he does well about 14 months out of the year. Well, at least 13. All you have to do is look at his record. He runs well in the cold and he runs well in the hot.

“I talk to him 10 times a day. He's bobbing his head outside the door. It's almost like he can hear you. He's just a super-amazing animal. I'm getting older and he's getting older, and maybe we're getting long in the tooth, but he owes us nothing. We'll always love him.”

As will local racing fans, who regard Pink Lloyd as a bona fide rock star.

“I don't know what people say on social media,” said Tiller, who has his own Instagram account. “But they do say nice things? Well, that's just great to hear. I'm going to be 71 on Dec. 11, so I'm not a big computer guy. I've been doing this for 54 years, and I'm still doing it. But you realize that you're only as good as you are because of your horses. It's like a hockey coach – if you don't have the good players, you're in trouble. Good players make you. But I think we've done very well managing this horse and our other horses. As far as 'Pinky,' there are just no words for him. He's running because he wants to run. He just likes what he does. And it's nice to know people appreciate that. It will be a sad day when this all ends, but it will also be a happy day. I never thought he would turn into this monster that he is. He's a legend.”

In 31 career starts, Pink Lloyd is 26-1-1. His dam, Gladiator Queen, was 2-2-2 from 17 starts. David Sorokolit bred the grey daughter of Great Gladiator.

Dual Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse sends out the pair of Ride a Comet and Souper Stonehenge.

Owned by John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm LLC, Ride a Comet, a 5-year-old son of Candy Ride (ARG), made a spectacular return to racing after a 25-month absence.

Under Patrick Husbands, the Kentucky-bred, who took the 2018 Del Mar Derby (G2T), recorded a two-length win at seven panels on the Woodbine main track on Oct. 16.

“Ride a Comet is an extremely, extremely talented horse,” praised Casse. “I was very impressed with his first race in over two years. I thought it was a tremendous race. He won with ease. This race is a little shorter than he prefers, but we've got to give him a shot. He's had a couple of injuries along the way, but he's very healthy now. If he can stay healthy, he will be a horse to be reckoned with throughout North America, not just Woodbine, in 2021.”

A 4-year-old son of Speightstown, bred and owned by Live Oak Plantation, Super Stonehenge also comes into Sunday's engagement off a victory.

The Florida-bred powered to a one-length win over 5 ½ furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta on Oct. 4.

“Super Stonehenge is a horse that we've always thought was extremely talented. He had a throat issue that set him back, and we gave him some time. I thought his last race was really good. This is a big step for him. Unlike Ride a Comet, who has competed with the best horses in North America, Super Stonehenge hasn't got there yet, but he's a horse we like a lot. We think he can be an extremely good 2021 horse.”

Other starters include Silent Poet, a 5-year-old son of Silent Name (JPN), who goes for his third straight score. The Stronach Stables' homebred arrives at the Ontario Derby off a half-length triumph in the Nearctic (G2T).

Sporting a record of 10-4-2 from 18 career starts, Silent Poet tries the Tapeta for the first time since a runner-up performance in the Sir Barton Stakes, on Dec. 2, 2018.

Casse is looking forward to what should be one of the most compelling stakes on the 2020 Woodbine calendar.

“This is going to be a heck of race… it's a great race.”

Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes champion Mighty Heart will meet up with stablemate and Breeders' Stakes victor Belichick in the $125,000 Ontario Derby, set for 1 1/8 miles on the Woodbine Tapeta.

After Mighty Heart took the first two legs of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown series, Belichick turned the tables on the bay colt in the 1 ½-mile Breeders' Stakes on Oct. 24, putting an end to Mighty Heart's quest to become the country's first horse to sweep all three races since Wando achieved the feat in 2003.

The Ontario Derby, for 3-year-olds, will mark the first race for both since the Breeders'.

Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll, enjoying an outstanding 2020 campaign, is looking forward to seeing them back in action.

“I couldn't be happier with how they both came out of that last race and how they are coming into this one. They're doing really, really well.”

Owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwood, Belichick is now 1-2-1 from four starts in his career.

The son of Lemon Drop Kid, unraced at two, finished third in his career bow on July 4, following it up with a runner-up performance in his second start on Aug. 1. After his second-place finish in the Plate, Belichick broke his maiden in style, taking the Breeders' Stakes by four lengths.

“They kind of broke early in the race so I just tried to see them and relax my horse as much as I can,” said jockey Luis Contreras after the Breeders' win. “He was very uncomfortable; this horse has a different style to run so I just let him be happy wherever he wants to be.

“Turning for home, I was just in hand all the way to the quarter pole and I asked him to run from the stretch home and he did. I was just watching, just feeling my horse at the same time. And he was doing great the whole way. He came into this race very ready, good thing for Josie and all the crew.”

Carroll is hoping for a similar performance on Saturday.

“It might be a little short for him, but he's just continuing to get better and better with each race. Obviously, it was a tremendous effort in the Breeders'. It was very impressive.”

One-eyed Mighty Heart, who garnered big attention in his quest to win the Canadian Triple Crown, will look to rebound off his seventh-place effort in the Breeders' Stakes.

Bred and owned by Larry Cordes, Mighty Heart, a bay son of Dramedy, was at the top of his game in taking the Queen's Plate at Woodbine on Sept. 12 and the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on Sept. 29.

Carroll expects a strong effort from the Ontario-bred, who will have Rafael Hernandez in the irons on Saturday.

“He's a horse that just tries every time he runs. He'll give you his all every race.”

Mark Casse will be represented by Deviant, who was fourth in the Breeders' Stakes, and Lucky Curlin, who has two runner-up stakes results to his name.

A chestnut son of Daredevil, Deviant will chase his third career win in what will be his 11th lifetime start.

“I thought he ran really well in the Breeders',” offered Casse. “He had a crazy thing happen to him. We trained him about two-and-a-half months ago, and he trained on the main track and came back. When he got back to the barn, he was lame. Somehow, through his training and walking back, he had about a three-inch screw stuck in his foot. We don't where he got it. So he missed a bit of time and I was worried he might miss the Breeders' Stakes. But he ran well and had a little bit of a troubled trip turning for home. I'm not positive he's as good on the synthetic as he is on the turf, but we're going to give him a try.”

Bred and owned by John Oxley, Lucky Curlin, a chestnut son of Curlin, comes into the race off back-to-back second-place finishes in the Marine Stakes (G3) and Toronto Cup Stakes.

The Kentucky-bred is 2-2-3 from 11 career starts.

“Lucky Curlin is a horse we had high hopes for early on in his career, and he disappointed us,” admitted Casse. “But he's come around really well. I thought his last two races have been improved. He's equally effective, turf or synthetic, I would expect him to run well.”

Casse is happy to have the Ontario Derby contested at this point in the season.

“This is the time of the year when you're trying to run against straight 3-year-olds. I think it's extremely smart that Woodbine moved this race back. I think it gives the three-year-olds one more chance, the horses that ran in the Queen's Plate and those types of races. It gives them one more shot to race against their own age group, which I think is a good thing. That was a great move by Woodbine.”

Malibu Mambo, considered at one point a top Queen's Plate contender, will make his third start of the season.

Trained by Kevin Attard for Stronach Stables, the dark bay son of Point of Entry won his most recent start, a three-length victory over 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine main track on October 11.

Also on tap Saturday, the $175,000 Bessarabian Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, three-year-olds & upward, contested at seven furlongs on the Tapeta, and the $150,000 Ontario Damsel for Ontario-bred three-year-old fillies, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta.

Post time for Saturday's 11-race card is 1:25 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$175,000 KENNEDY ROAD STAKES (Race 9)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Stonehenge – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

2 – Ride a Comet – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

3 – Eskiminzin – Darryll Holland – Carlos Grant

4 – Silent Poet – Justin Stein – Nicholas Gonzalez

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

6 – Roaring Forties – Kazushi Kimura – Daniel Vella

7 – Pink Lloyd – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller

$125,000 ONTARIO DERBY (Race 8)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Field Pass – Kazushi Kimura – Michael Maker

2 – Belichick – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

3 – Mnemba Island – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Julia Carey

4 – Lucky Curlin – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

5 – Deviant* – Jerome Lermyte – Mark Casse

6 – Mighty Heart – Rafael Hernandez – Josie Carroll

7 – Dune of Pilat – David Moran – Brendan Walsh

8 – Malibu Mambo – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

* denotes supplemented

$175,000 BESSARABIAN (Race 10)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Escape – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Michael Trombetta

2 – Boardroom – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

3 – Painting – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll

4 – Artie's Princess – Kazushi Kimura – Wesley Ward

5 – Amalfi Coast – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

6 – Jakarta – Daisuke Fukumoto – Michael Maker

7 – Our Secret Agent – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

8 – Outburst – David Moran – Eddie Kenneally

$150,000 ONTARIO DAMSEL (Race 3)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Curlin's Voyage – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll

2 – Merveilleux – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

3 – Afleet Katherine – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

4 – Ann of Cleves – Keveh Nicholls – Ricky Griffith

5 – Ami's Samurai – Daisuke Fukumoto – Josie Carroll

6 – Justleaveitalone – David Moran – Nicholas Gonzalez

The post Pink Lloyd, Mighty Heart Top Saturday Stakes Contenders At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post