Are You Kidding Me looks to repeat in Eclipse Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Are You Kidding Me, Canada’s reigning champion older male runner, will try to win the $200,000 Eclipse Stakes for the second year in a row Saturday at Woodbine.
Are You Kidding Me, a 6-year-old trained by Roger Attfield, put his breathing problems behind him when he returned to the local scene last spring from California. He won 3 of 7 starts and $420,500 during his championship season, which featured a daylight score in the Grade 2 Eclipse on Polytrack.
Are You Kidding Me took the Grade 2 Nijinsky on grass in July and capped his campaign by beating a quality field in the Grade 2 Autumn in November.
Are You Kidding Me never challenged when he came off the sidelines in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland in April. On Saturday, he’s being reunited with Alan Garcia, who was aboard for all three of his 2015 triumphs.
Five others were entered in the 1 1/16-mile Eclipse, including Melmich and Florida Won.
Eclipse, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Are You Kidding Me, by Run Away and Hide
Last 3 Beyers: 86-102-96
◗ He has been working like gangbusters on Tapeta, including five-eighths in 1:00.20 on May 14, the fastest of 95 drills at the distance that day.
Melmich, by Wilko
Last 3 Beyers: 102-95-96
◗ He was a distant second in the Sovereign Award voting for champion older male last year after winning six of eight starts in 2015. He captured the Grade 3 Valedictory by 10 lengths on Polytrack in his last start Nov. 29.
◗ Melmich has worked extensively on Tapeta and the dirt training track at Woodbine this spring. Trainer Kevin Attard said there are pluses and minuses when sizing up his chances.
“He’s been training really well,” Attard said. “He’s put on some weight this year and looks well. He fired fresh last year. It’s tough to find races for horses with no conditions. There are a couple of horses in the field who have run already, which is an advantage. It seems like horses need a run over this track.”
Florida Won, by Birdstone
Last 3 Beyers: 91-93-94
◗ He tailed off in the fall after landing the Grade 3 Seagram Cup and Presque Isle Mile and is coming off the bench as a first-time gelding.
Breaking Lucky, by Lookin At Lucky
Last 3 Beyers: 92-91-81
◗ The 2015 Prince of Wales Stakes winner is exiting a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland. Dirt seems like his preferred surface.