Are You Kidding Me digs in to take Dominion Day

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The durable millionaire Are You Kidding Me had accomplished a lot during his long career, but the 9-year-old had never won the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes until Sunday’s exciting renewal at Woodbine.

The 1 1/4-mile Tapeta route had a pokey pace, and Are You Kidding Me came from fourth under Rafael Hernandez to reach contention at the top of the stretch. The favored Special Forces rallied wide from a trailing fifth to battle with Are You Kidding Me in the final furlong, and the old guy dug in to win by a half-length in a time of 2:04.28.

Pumpkin Rumble finished third, and Aheadbyacentury checked in fourth, ahead of early pacesetter Final Copy. Morning-line favorite Souper Tapit was scratched.

It was the first win of the year for Are You Kidding Me, who was a beaten favorite in his previous race in an allowance-optional claimer.

“He’s getting older, and he had quite a bit of time off this winter,” said trainer Roger Attfield. “Sometimes those older horses, when they get that much time off, they get a little bit rusty. It takes them a little bit longer. It seemed like he had lost a step or two, to be quite honest. He’s such a competitor, and he came into this race really well.”

Are You Kidding Me ($7.40), a son of Run Away and Hide, earned $75,000 of the $124,250 purse for owners Ronald Kirk, John Bates, and Michael Riordan.