Keep On Truckin flashes elite talent in Clarendon

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – From all perspectives, Keep On Truckin’s runaway 7 ¾-length score in last Saturday’s $125,000 Clarendon Stakes was fast. His final time for the 5 ½ furlongs, 1:03.07, was just .37 off the synthetic track record, and his Beyer Speed Figure of 92 is the third-quickest by a 2-year-old in North America this year.

Keep On Truckin, victorious in his two races by a combined total of 19 ½ lengths, could be any kind. The next local juvenile stakes is the $175,000 Simcoe Aug. 28, but trainer Catherine Day Phillips said she could bypass that sprint for graduates of local yearling sales in favor of the Grade 1 Summer over a mile on the grass Sept. 15. She said running in both was not an option because of their close proximity to each other.

“It doesn’t make sense to run in both with a good horse,” Day Phillips said.

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Keep On Truckin was a $110,000 yearling purchase by David Anderson and George and Brian Ledson. He was gelded early on because of his size.

“We gelded him because he was a big horse, and we were worried that he would get a little coarse or too top-heavy,” Day Phillips said. “We’re looking for a racehorse, and not trying to make a stallion. He’s a big horse, but he’s very well-balanced.”

Day Phillips sent out another promising 2-year-old debut winner last month, Barilko, who won a six-furlong maiden special on the grass after battling for the lead.

“He showed a lot of grit and determination in his first race,” Day Phillips said. “He’s all-business, but he’s laid back and not aggressive. He came out of his race well.”

Barilko was the first starter for Scott Kelly, who owns the Elusive Quality colt in partnership with Anderson and the Ledsons.

“He was there when Barilko ran,” Day Phillips said. “It was a big thrill to win with your first horse.”

◗ Day Phillips said the two-time 2018 Canadian champion Mr Havercamp will prep for the $1 million Woodbine Mile Sept. 14 in Sunday’s Grade 3 Seagram Cup here on the Tapeta. Mr Havercamp won his season opener over a top-notch field in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple at Saratoga July 12.

“He’s run tremendously well fresh, and seems to enjoy that,” Day Phillips. “We’re looking to keep him good and fresh.”

◗ Trainer Robert Tiller said 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd exited his fourth straight stakes win in Sunday’s $100,000 Shepperton in good shape. He earned a 98 Beyer in the Ontario-sired sprint.

Tiller said Pink Lloyd is on target for the Aug. 28 Kenora Stakes, as is his stablemate Circle of Friends. They ran one-two in that yearling sales stakes last year.