Pink Lloyd hunting Sovereign Award in Kennedy Road Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pink Lloyd returns from a layoff with championship aspirations in Saturday’s $175,000 Kennedy Road, a Grade 2 stakes that he won during his unbeaten 2017 Horse of the Year campaign.

Pink Lloyd sailed through his first five starts this year, winning them all in stakes company. Things went awry in the Grade 3 Bold Venture on Sept. 14, however, when he popped the gate early and was declared a non-starter after finishing fourth.

Trainer Robert Tiller bypassed the Oct. 26 Overskate Stakes because he said he wanted Pink Lloyd fresh and ready for the six-furlong Kennedy Road.

“We wanted to try to win this race because we feel he could be Horse of the Year if he does,” Tiller said. “We blew up last year in the Overskate. That was the race he had the bleeding incident in. He was a tired horse at that time. Right now, he’s doing very well. You always have to worry about his gate antics, although we’ve trained him in a different style. I believe we’ll be fine.”

The $225,000 Coronation Futurity, for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds, is also on the 11-race all-Tapeta card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Pink Lloyd, by Old Forester

Last 3 Beyers: 98-98-100

◗ After toting 127 pounds in his last three victories, the popular 7-year-old is shedding some weight.

“This being a graded race, he carries 121,” Tiller said. “That should help a little bit.”

Reconfigure, by Lemon Drop Kid

Last 3 Beyers: 92-89-86

◗ The upwardly mobile veteran has run five solid races on turf since Tiller claimed him for $25,000 in July, including a head loss in the Grade 2 Nearctic on Oct 12.

“I think he’s a better grass horse, but I think he’ll run well,” Tiller said.

Extravagant Kid, by Kiss the Kid

Last 3 Beyers: 88-98-90

◗ The Kentucky-based gelding gave Pink Lloyd a run for his money here May 4 when second in the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes. He has since won two turf stakes for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Richiesinthehouse, by Sidney’s Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 95-92-92

◗ After finishing a close third in the Nearctic, the Chicago-based gelding won a six-furlong open allowance here on the Tapeta for trainer Larry Rivelli.

Dixie’s Gamble, by Gamble’s Exchange

Last 3 Beyers: 89-78-89

◗ He dominated a weak field of Ontario-sired types in the seven-furlong Overskate.

Coronation Futurity

Off a fast-closing second in the Grade 3 Grey, Muskoka Gold should be favored in the 1 1/8-mile Coronation Futurity. He graduated in the Cup and Saucer Stakes on the grass two back in his second race, and already has the look of a contender for next year’s Queen’s Plate. His trainer, Mark Casse, has won the Coronation three times.

Cup and Saucer runner-up Pleasecallmeback is making his first Tapeta start. He is trained by Roger Attfield, who won last Saturday’s South Ocean Stakes on Tapeta with the grass runner Gun Society.

Malibu Mambo raced wide throughout when seventh as the second choice in the Cup and Saucer. He was previously an impressive debut winner on the Tapeta.

Shippers Halo Again and Tomcat Black are both secondary contenders in the eight-horse field.