Pink Lloyd outlasts Olympic Runner in Bold Venture

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes was finally added to Pink Lloyd’s resume Saturday at Woodbine, but his 22nd career stakes score didn’t come easy.

After saving ground on the turn in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, Pink Lloyd ($3.20) was stuck behind dueling leaders Malibu Secret and Roaring Forties with nowhere to go inside the quarter pole. Rafael Hernandez had to wait until just inside the eighth pole to find a narrow split between the leaders, and he guided Pink Lloyd through to take control before holding off a charging Olympic Runner to prevail by a neck, in a time of 1:16.03.

“He broke well, and there was no real pace in the race,” Hernandez said. “I had to play it by ear, and just sit behind and wait for the time to push the button.”

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Trainer Robert Tiller was happy with the effort by the 8-year-old champion Pink Lloyd, who toted highweight of 128 pounds.

“I really wanted to see him win it,” Tiller said. “He’s done everything. He keeps doing everything. He overcame a bad trip today, for him. He loves to run at horses, not be squeezed in between horses. I think he thought it was over, but then that horse came running, and ran a big race.”

A son of leading Ontario sire Old Forester, Pink Lloyd banked $90,000 of the $140,750 purse for Entourage Stable.

Malibu Secret finished third, and was followed by Roaring Forties, Magical Man, White Flag, and Dun Drum. Smart Remark was scratched.