Pink Lloyd pointing to Vigil Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Robert Tiller reports that three-time Canadian champion sprinter Pink Lloyd emerged from his dramatic victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Bold Venture none the worse for wear.

Pink Lloyd awaited room in the 6 1/2-furlong event before splitting rivals through a narrow opening in the stretch. He then opened on the field before holding on to prevail by a neck, recording his 22nd stakes win from 30 starts for Entourage Stable.

Tiller was ecstatic with the effort put forth by the venerable 8-year-old, who toted high weight of 128 pounds including Rafael Hernandez.

“I really wanted to see him win it,” Tiller said. “He overcame a bad trip, 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.”

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Tiller hopes to run Pink Lloyd back in the Grade 3 Vigil on Sept. 5. After that six-furlong stakes, he said there’s nothing for him until the restricted Overskate Stakes on Oct. 31.

Tiller said he has nowhere to run Greenwood Stakes winner Forester’s Turn, a 3-year-old who’s 5 for 7 with earnings of $253,852. A homebred owned by Rolph Davis, Forester’s Turn is not eligible for any upcoming yearling sales stakes. Like Pink Lloyd, he’s a gelded son of leading Ontario sire Old Forester.

Another Davis homebred, Lead Director, graduated second-time out Sunday. The 3-year-old gelding by Majesticperfection looks poised to win a first-level allowance.

“I think he’s an up-and-comer,” Tiller said. “We’ve had a lot of issues with him behavior-wise, but he was much better in the paddock the other day.”

The Tiller-trained 2-year-old Dragon’s Brew notched his debut on Aug. 9 for owner-breeder Goldmart Farm. He earned a 65 Beyer Speed Figure in the six-furlong maiden special. Tiller said he plans on running the buy-back from a local yearling sale in the $250,000 Simcoe Stakes, for sale graduates on Aug. 30.

“I always liked him, or I wouldn’t have run him in an open race,” Tiller said. “He could have run Ontario-sired. He’s a gutsy little guy. He came out of the race well.”

Forest Drift, a homebred owned by 3 Sons Racing Stable, notched her Aug. 8 opener in a six-furlong special for juvenile fillies. The daughter of Mizzen Mast is out of the rapid stakes winner Pohdi Pohdi, who was campaigned by 3 Sons and Tiller.

“I was worried about her being a work short,” Tiller said. “I ran her close to her last work, which I don’t like to do. She showed us everything that we thought she had, which is guts. I think she’s going to be heard from in the future. Her mother was very fast. She was good mare, but she bowed a tendon and we had to breed her.”