Pink Lloyd follows shaky pre-start with Achievement win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — After some tense pre-race moments, Pink Lloyd ($3.30) broke on top and never looked to back to take the $125,000 Achievement Stakes in a romp under Eurico Da Silva at Woodbine on Saturday.

Pink Lloyd busted through the doors before the start and was then corralled by the outriders, leading to a delay as racing officials decided to change gates.

In the race itself, Pink Lloyd set moderate fractions, while being pressed by Sweet Grass Creek, and then drew off on his left lead to win by 5 1/4 lengths over that rival. His time for the six furlongs was a quick 1:08.76.

“He was very, very fresh today,” Da Silva said. “Another horse acted up and tried to flip in the gate, and (Pink Lloyd) just went through the doors. I knew I’d be on the lead because he practiced before the race.”

Pink Lloyd, a son of Old Forester trained by Robert Tiller, banked $75,000 in winning his third straight stakes for Entourage Stable.

“He’s been so sharp all week,” Tiller said. “I was worried that maybe I hadn’t done enough with him. He went over there like a wild man. He’s just a very good horse. I’m very proud of him.”

Boreal Spirit finished third. He was followed by Thor’s Rocket, Jacks Escarpment and the American shipper Shaft of Light, who dropped back abruptly on the turn and was beaten a pole.