Melmich edges Are You Kidding Me at Seagram Cup wire

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The mighty little Melmich came wide from well back to collar Are You Kidding Me on the wire in Sunday’s Grade 3, $129,250 Seagram Cup Stakes at Woodbine.

Melmich ($4.20) got away slowly while getting bumped before assuming his usual position at the rear of the field in the 1 1/16-mile route. Bear’sway was pressed up front by Keen Gizmo through honest fractions, as Are You Kidding Me stalked on the outside after getting hung out five wide on the first turn.

Are You Kidding Me assumed command entering the stretch, as Melmich commenced his rally leaving the quarter pole. Melmich prevailed by a nose after trying to lug in through the final furlong. Gigantic Breeze finished just a half-length back in third in the seven-horse field.

Trained by Kevin Attard, Melmich covered the distance in 1:43.43, under a patient ride from Eurico da Silva.

“I just go by what (Melmich) wants to do,” Da Silva said. “I have so much confidence. He’s a great horse, and only great horses can do that. (Are You Kidding Me) is a very nice horse. It could have gone either way. It was a great race.”

Melmich, a 6-year-old gelding by Wilko, earned $75,000 for owners Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman, who claimed him for $20,000 in 2014.