Pink Lloyd on main stage for Canadian Millions Sales Stakes Day

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pink Lloyd will be looking to record his sixth consecutive stakes victory Wednesday as part of Canadian Millions Sales Stakes Day at Woodbine, a lucrative card featuring $900,000 in purses across six stakes races for graduates of the local yearling sale.

Pink Lloyd recorded his fourth triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure of the season when he won the Shepperton Stakes with a 101 Beyer over 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta on Aug. 12. He is the 3-5 morning-line favorite for the $125,000 Kenora Stakes at six furlongs on Tapeta for 3-year-olds and up.

Trainer Robert Tiller said the 5-year-old son of Old Forester is in good shape for the Kenora.

“We’re trying to win six stakes in a row, which is an awful hard thing to do,” Tiller said. “I can’t remember the last horse that has won six stakes in a row, never mind six races in a row. At the end of the day, he’s a super horse, and horses like that are hard to find. We believe he’s ready to run.”

Pink Lloyd is one of four stakes entrants Wednesday for Tiller, who also will run Guitar George, Sweater Weather, and River Maid.

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Halton Stakes, race 1

Kicking off the card will be the $125,000 Halton Stakes, a turf race for 3-year-olds and up that has been extended to 1 1/2 miles this year from one mile.

Eminent Force looks to remain in top form while making his first start off the claim for trainer Catherine Day Phillips. Eminent Force was claimed for $62,500 for owners P A Fullerton Stables and Kingfield Racing Stable out of his third consecutive victory on the Woodbine turf on July 30, when he earned a 92 Beyer.

Standing in his way is three-time Grade 2 stakes winner Kaigun, who makes his first start at Woodbine since running fourth in last season’s Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes. Kaigun was ninth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, in a turf allowance over 1 3/8 miles at Saratoga on July 21, a race from which the winner and runner-up have both come back to win their next start.

Elgin Stakes, race 3

Melmich improved to 3 for 3 on the year Aug. 13, nosing out two-time Canadian champion Are You Kidding Me to win the Grade 3 Seagram Cup. He will be looking to win the $125,000 Elgin Stakes, at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, for the third straight year.

Melmich figures to be the heavy favorite in a field that could be scratched down to four since three entrants are cross-entered in other races on the card.

Algoma Stakes, race 4

After an eighth-place finish on turf in the Victoriana Stakes on July 30, Sweater Weather will return to Tapeta to try to win the $125,000 Algoma Stakes for the second year in a row.

A number of other fillies and mares loom as strong contenders. Neshama, the 2016 Woodbine Oaks winner, could peak in her third start of the season, while Sparkles Girl finished ahead of Neshama in an allowance Aug. 7.

Trini Brewnette and Obeah Woman were third and fourth in this event last year, while Spring Tempest enters off a victory against open company July 29. Miss Sea, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, was fourth in the Victoriana and could take the field all the way.

Muskoka Stakes, race 5

Summer Sunday captured her first stakes win in just her second start in the Nandi Stakes on Aug. 6 and will look to remain unbeaten in the $200,000 Muskoka Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta.

Among the other contenders are Hatch Gate, who adds Lasix for trainer Roger Attfield following a winning debut, and Dirty Girl, who will be looking to bounce back after stumbling at the start in the Nandi.

Safe to Say, who won the allowance prep for this event Aug. 7, and Clickity Clack, the runner-up in the prep, could upset at a price.

Simcoe Stakes, race 6

Trainer John Ross will look to win a stakes race on Canadian Millions Sales Stakes Day for the fifth consecutive year. He sends morning-line favorite Aheadbyacentury in the $200,000 Simcoe Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Aheadbyacentury ran third in his debut in the Clarendon Stakes on Aug. 5 and will add Lasix for his second start.

Clarendon Stakes runner-up Eskiminzin and the last-out winners Ellas My Love and Stormfuhr are other key contenders.

Kenora Stakes, race 7

A pair of horses coming out of the Shepperton Stakes appear to have the best chances of upsetting Pink Lloyd in the Kenora.

Jacks Escarpment won this race last year and will be making his second start for trainer Josie Carroll after running fifth in the Shepperton, his seasonal debut. Field of Courage was fourth in the Shepperton and won going six furlongs early in the season.

Field of Courage also has been entered in the Elgin Stakes.