Are You Kidding Me on a roll ahead of Sky Classic

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Are You Kidding Me carried his strong form from the start of the season into a win in the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes on July 19 and will be looking to keep the momentum going Sunday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Sky Classic Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on Woodbine’s turf course.

Trainer Roger Attfield said the 5-year-old horse is coming into the race in good order, and that a throat procedure over the winter has helped Are You Kidding Me this season.

“He’s getting his air now, and it’s made a big difference, obviously,” he said. “He has been successful so far, and we just hope it all comes together. He’s been training very well, and he appears to be going into the race very well also.”

Are You Kidding Me never has raced beyond 1 1/8 miles, but Attfield said he does not think the distance will be an issue. Attfield opted to point Are You Kidding Me to the Sky Classic instead of the Grade 3 Seagram Cup over 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack on Aug. 2.

“I’ve aimed him towards this race,” he said. “I could have gone on the Polytrack the other day. I don’t see any reason why a mile and a quarter would be any problem, but until you’ve done it, sometimes you don’t really know. But I don’t think it will be a problem.”

Key contenders

Are You Kidding Me (Last 3 Beyers: 93-96-88)

DRF Formulator fact: Attfield and jockey Alan Garcia have been a lethal combination in graded stakes at Woodbine this year, combining for four wins from six starts, with a return on investment of $6.51. Overall, they have a 43 percent strike rate from 28 starts together.

Mr Speaker (Last 3 Beyers: 97-94-96)

* He’s a Grade 1 winner at this distance on grass after scoring in the Belmont Derby with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure last season as a 3-year-old.

* Trainer Shug McGaughey has had just three graded stakes starters at Woodbine in the past five years, and all three have finished fifth, according to DRF Formulator.

Aldous Snow (Last 3 Beyers: 95-88-89)

* He won the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes last time out July 5, holding off Dynamic Sky for much of the stretch run. Trainer Malcolm Pierce has said that Aldous Snow runs his best races when the turf is firm.

Golden Sabre (Last 3 Beyers: 92-93-79)

* He’s recorded back-to-back Beyers in the 90s after being gelded over the winter, most recently finishing second to Are You Kidding Me in the Nijinsky.