Are You Kidding Me takes aim at Autumn Stakes repeat

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Are You Kidding Me will look to solidify his case for a second straight Canadian older male championship when he starts in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Autumn Stakes for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.

The Autumn Stakes goes as race 8 on a 10-race card. In race 6, Grade 2 Play the King Stakes winner Glenville Gardens will get back on the grass in the $100,000 Labeeb Stakes for 3-year-olds and up over one mile.

Are You Kidding Me will be seeking a repeat in the Autumn Stakes, which he won last year by a half-length over Lukes Alley. He’s put together a strong campaign once again this season, with wins in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes and Grade 3 Durham Cup and runner-up finishes in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup and Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes.

Trainer Roger Attfield said Are You Kidding Me missed some training time following his win in the Durham Cup on Sept. 24 but added that the 6-year-old has been training well in recent weeks.

“He had a nice work the other day,” he said. “He galloped out superbly. He should be fine. He has missed some time, but he’s a very fit horse in the first place, so I’m pretty sure that it hasn’t bothered him at all.”

Autumn Stakes (Race 8)

Key Contenders

Are You Kidding Me, by Run Away and Hide

Last 3 Beyers: 101-98-99

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Attfield and jockey Alan Garcia have won with seven of 20 starters in graded stakes at Woodbine over the past two years, with a return on investment of $3.03.

Lukes Alley, by Flower Alley

Last 3 Beyers: 103-103-101

◗ He makes his first start since winning the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap in February. Trainer Josie Carroll has a 22 percent strike rate from 46 starters making their first start off a layoff of 180 days or longer.

Royal Son, by Tiznow

Last 3 Beyers: 92-89-96

◗ He earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure while finishing fourth in the Seagram Cup at this distance Aug. 1.

◗ He went gate to wire in an allowance in his most recent start Oct. 14 and could go straight to the lead again under jockey Patrick Husbands.

Freitag, by Giant Gizmo

Last 3 Beyers: 97-94-88

◗ He most recently earned a career-best 97 Beyer while running second to Are You Kidding Me in the Durham Cup.

Labeeb Stakes

Glenville Gardens goes into the Labeeb off a third behind Royal Son in an allowance over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta on Oct. 14. He won the Play the King on Aug. 20 and then ran seventh in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 17.

Nipigon appears to be the main threat to Glenville Gardens. He was second behind Where’s the Widget in the restricted Bunty Lawless Stakes over a mile on turf Oct. 22, earning a 91 Beyer.

Il Segreto was third in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger Stakes on turf at Monmouth Park on Aug. 21 in his first start since coming over from France and joining the barn of Christophe Clement. In his only other North American start, he ran ninth in the Presque Isle Mile on Tapeta on Sept. 18.

Commute could be ready to deliver a big race off an allowance win over six furlongs on Tapeta here Oct. 8. Trained by Mark Casse, he’ll be making his third start following a layoff.

Rounding out the field are Clearer View, Balk, Jaguar Poz, and Best Bard.