Pink Lloyd being freshened due to gap on schedule

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Three-time Canadian champion sprinter Pink Lloyd is in the midst of a rare mid-season layoff through no fault of his own. There are no Tapeta sprints for him until the Grade 2 Kennedy Road on Nov. 21, and trainer Robert Tiller said he has no interest in trying the popular 8-year-old on the grass, a surface over which he has never competed.

Pink Lloyd won his 10th consecutive race in the Sept. 5 Vigil, which extended his perfect season to 4 for 4, all in stakes under Rafael Hernandez. He just missed his own six-furlong synthetic-track record in the Grade 3 Vigil, earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure, and is once again a leading candidate for Canadian Horse of the Year honors.

Pink Lloyd’s Vigil victory was extra sweet for Entourage Stable and Tiller because it pushed his career earnings over $2 million.

“I never dreamt that would happen,” Tiller said. “I’ve had a couple make over $1 million, but when you’re talking $2 million Canadian, that’s an accomplishment. I’ve had people tell me this is his last year, but he’ll tell me when his career is over. He’s enjoying himself.”

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

The Overskate Stakes was on Pink Lloyd’s schedule in the past when it was a Tapeta sprint, but it was changed to a 7 1/2-furlong inner turf event this year on Oct. 31. After the Kennedy Road, Tiller said Pink Lloyd will complete his 2020 campaign in the $100,000 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes for Ontario-sired stock on Dec. 12.

“We’re not running on the grass,” Tiller stressed. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Dragon’s Brew to Bull Page

Tiller said he’s bypassing Sunday’s Grade 1 Summer with the unbeaten 2-year-old Dragon’s Brew, who’s coming off a handy off-the-pace score in the $250,000 Simcoe Stakes, for graduates of local yearling sales.

“I think he’s a nice horse, but the Summer looks tough,” Tiller said. “We’re looking at the [Sept. 27] Bull Page, an Ontario-sired stakes. It’s now two turns and 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf.”

Daisuke Fukumoto, who won Saturday’s Queen’s Plate on Mighty Heart, rode Dragon’s Brew in both of his races. Tiller has high praise for the rising star from Japan, who will turn 23 on Oct. 13. He compared him to former Woodbine stalwart David Clark, the 1998 Sovereign Award-winning jockey.

“He’s got great hands,” Tiller said. “He reminds me of David Clark in the old days. He’s very smart. He thinks out there. He seems to know pace. He never used [Dragon’s Brew] every step of the way. He’s a sit-still type of rider. Even if they’re on the lead, they’re relaxed. Sometimes, they’re too relaxed. I like them kinda rides, especially on young horses. Let the horse do the running. He doesn’t use a lot of stick.”