Are You Kidding Me back on Tapeta for Seagram Cup Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After testing Grade 1 waters on dirt at Churchill Downs in his most recent start, Are You Kidding Me will return to a more winnable spot in Monday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Seagram Cup Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Woodbine’s Tapeta.

Canada’s champion older male of 2015 flattened out in the stretch to be fifth in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 18. Trainer Roger Attfield said he felt Are You Kidding Me deserved a chance to run against Grade 1 company based on his training going into the race.

“He ran well,” he said. “I thought he’d be in the first three. That’s why we went there. He came out of it fine.”

Attfield said he had considered running Are You Kidding Me in the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes on turf at Woodbine on July 24, but warm temperatures in the Toronto area and the fact that Are You Kidding Me would have had to carry the top weight led him to point to this spot.

“He was either going to run in the Nijinsky or in the Seagram Cup, but he had to carry 123 pounds in the Nijinsky,” Attfield said. “I thought the weekend was going to be hot and decided that was a lot to ask of him, so I decided to run him in the Seagram Cup instead.”

Key Contenders

Are You Kidding Me, by Run Away and Hide
Last 3 Beyers: 96-100-86

◗ He earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in his first start on the Tapeta on May 28 in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes, where he dueled through slow fractions before sprinting clear in the stretch.

Melmich, by Wilko
Last 3 Beyers: 96-95-102

◗ He finished third to Are You Kidding Me in the Eclipse Stakes before coming back to score in the Grade 3 Dominion Day Handicap over 1 1/4 miles on July 1.

◗ While he’s excelled at longer distances recently, he does have six wins in 14 starts at 1 1/16 miles, including a victory in the Elgin Stakes last September.

Royal Son, by Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 92-68-99

◗ He made his first start for trainer Mark Casse in an allowance July 17 at Woodbine, going gate to wire to win by 4 1/2 lengths and earning a 92 Beyer. He’ll likely use his speed again here.

Breaking Lucky, by Lookin At Lucky
Last 3 Beyers: 94-97-92

◗ He ran second in the Eclipse and Dominion Day and will look to reach the winner’s circle for the first time since last year’s Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. Luis Contreras takes over in the irons.