Pink Lloyd looks to make it a dozen in Shepperton Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pink Lloyd will look to win his 12th consecutive race, all Woodbine stakes races, in Sunday’s $100,000 Shepperton Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and up over 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta.

Pink Lloyd won his 11th race in a row in the Achievement Stakes over six furlongs on June 3. Despite rearing at the start, Pink Lloyd showed speed and dueled briefly with Lokinforpursemonee before taking control on the far turn and drawing away to win by three lengths over Conquest Lemonraid.

Eurico Da Silva has been aboard for 10 of Pink Lloyd’s 11 straight victories. He missed Pink Lloyd’s win in the Jacques Cartier Stakes to start the season April 21 due to suspension.

“What I love about him is that he is very special,” Da Silva said of Pink Lloyd. “He’s just a runner. He always has another gear inside of him. When I ride him, sometimes I think he’s reached his limit, and I just give him a little push, and he takes off from there.”

After facing just three rivals in each of his last two starts, Pink Lloyd will face six foes in the Shepperton.

Key Contenders

Pink Lloyd, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 101-101-106

◗ Pink Lloyd has earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in all three of his starts this season, plus a 103 Beyer in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes last November to finish his 2017 campaign.

Jacks Escarpment, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-91

◗ He returned from a layoff to run third in an open allowance over 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta on June 24. He finished second behind Pink Lloyd in back-to-back restricted stakes last season, the Kenora and Overskate.

San Nicola Thunder, by Silent Name
Last 3 Beyers: 89-91-82

◗ He was claimed for $62,500 out of his most recent start on June 24, when he finished second behind Sweet Grass Creek. In his first start of the year, which came over six furlongs on May 12, he earned a 91 Beyer in an allowance win over six furlongs, defeating multiple stakes winner Yorkton by a half-length.

Boreal Spirit, by North Light
Last 3 Beyers: 94-78-82

◗ He scratched out of last weekend’s Grade 1 Highlander Stakes to run in this spot following a neck victory in an allowance over six furlongs on turf June 9 in which he earned a 94 Beyer.

◗ In his last stakes start of 2017, he ran fifth in the Overskate over seven furlongs on Tapeta on Oct. 29 behind Pink Lloyd and Jacks Escarpment.

Kingsport, by Milwaukee Brew
Last 3 Beyers: 81-87-96

◗ After back-to-back fourth-place finishes in routes to start the year, Kingsport will cut back to a sprint. He won the Shepperton over Jacks Escarpment in 2016 but was fourth in his most recent sprint race in the Overskate Stakes last season.