Are You Kidding Me out remainder of 2017

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Two-time Canadian older male champion Are You Kidding Me will miss the rest of the season with an injury, trainer Roger Attfield said.

Attfield said the 7-year-old gelding developed quarter-crack issues following his runner-up finish to Melmich in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup Stakes on Aug. 13. Unfortunately, quarter cracks are nothing new to Are You Kidding Me. A similar issue forced him to miss time following a start in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs last November.

“He had a quarter crack last year, and we were able to run with it until we ran in the Clark,” Attfield said. “That’s why he didn’t run well there. Another one came this year, and I just wasn’t able to control it well enough to think that he could go out and run to his true ability.”

Attfield said Are You Kidding Me is currently on the farm and should be able to race again next year. Once he’s ready to begin training, Attfield anticipates Are You Kidding Me will join his string at the Payson Park training center in Florida this winter.

“He’s down in Kentucky getting some time off and being treated to get that quarter crack healed up again,” he said. “He’ll be back in the springtime.”