Pink Lloyd the heavy favorite in Vigil three-peat bid

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Canada’s top sprinter Pink Lloyd will look to remain unbeaten in 2019 when he takes on six rivals in Sunday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Vigil Stakes over six furlongs on Woodbine’s Tapeta.

Pink Lloyd has won the Vigil the last two years and will be favored to win the race for a third time on Sunday. He comes into this year’s edition off of wins in the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes and the Greenwood Stakes to start the season. Pink Lloyd now sports a career record of 18 wins from 23 starts, and trainer Robert Tiller said he has been training well coming into the Vigil.

“I think he’s in good order and he’s going into this race very happy,” he said. “He has had his fair share of problems over the years, even as a young horse, and he keeps coming back. He’s pretty amazing.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Pink Lloyd, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 97-99-87

◗ Pink Lloyd will start from the rail for the third time in his career, which could force jockey Eurico Da Silva to aim for forward positioning out of the gate. Pink Lloyd came from a stalking position early to win both of his previous starts from post 1, last year’s Jacques Cartier and Kenora Stakes.

◗ Pink Lloyd is the 127-pound highweight in the field, and carries five pounds more than second highweight Wyatt’s Town.

Dixie’s Gamble, by Gamble’s Exchange
Last 3 Beyers: 97-81-76

◗ He’ll make his stakes debut in the Vigil and comes into the race off of back-to-back wins against allowance company.

◗ In his most recent start, on June 9, he stalked the early pace and drew away to win by six lengths, earning a career-high 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

Wyatt’s Town, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 88-80-88

◗ He won two sprint stakes as a 3-year-old on Woodbine’s Tapeta last season, but has yet to replicate that form in a pair of starts as a 4-year-old.

◗ Most recently, Wyatt’s Town was fourth as the favorite in an allowance event over 6 1/2 furlongs on June 19. The top three finishers from that race all are entered in the Vigil.

Marten Lake, by Trajectory
Last 3 Beyers: 91-93-87

◗ He’s run twice this year. He was second to Pink Lloyd in the Greenwood Stakes in his first start of the year on June 1 and then was second in the aforementioned allowance race on June 19.

◗ His stalking style should suit here as there appears to be plenty of speed to chase.

Sable Island, by Stormy Atlantic
Last 3 Beyers: 95-74-88

◗ He went to the lead and never looked back to win an allowance event on June 19 against several of these rivals.

◗ His outside draw will make it more difficult for him to clear the field early on, and he may have other speed to contend with in this spot.