Pink Lloyd returns in Jacques Cartier Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pink Lloyd, who won an unprecedented eight consecutive Woodbine stakes last year, heads a field of six in Saturday’s opening-day feature, the $100,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes.

Pink Lloyd notched his first stakes in the 2017 Jacques Cartier, and the powerful chestnut hasn’t lost since. He has been sidelined since extending that streak with a powerful score in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road on Nov. 25.

Pink Lloyd wintered in Ontario and has breezed four times here, a work pattern that mirrors his 2017 spring preparation. However, his training was interrupted when all tracks were closed here last Sunday and Monday following a major ice storm.

“The last week here has been rough,” trainer Robert Tiller said. “We were looking to gallop him into the race every day, but we weren’t able to do that. The conditions were much better last year.”

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Pink Lloyd drew the undesirable one-hole and will carry high weight of 124 pounds. Rafael Hernandez replaces his regular rider, Eurico Da Silva, who is serving a suspension.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in him,” Tiller said. “He’s very sharp. He will try, and he’ll be right there, but he’s certainly going into his first start with some excuses. We’ve had to change riders, but I don’t think that’s going to hurt him. He’s going to have to carry weight all year. I’m hoping he can beat them. I don’t like excuses.”

The six-furlong Jacques Cartier goes as the eighth race on a 10-race card that also includes the $100,000 Wando, an overnight route for 3-year-olds.

In the Wando, Inge, Flight Deck, and Pipers Warrior are the Ontario-breds with Queen’s Plate aspirations in the seven-horse field. The Grade 3 winner Archaggelos was cross-entered but was expected to go in the Woodhaven at Aqueduct.

KEY CONTENDERS

Pink Lloyd, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 103-94-93

◗ He was a shoo-in to be voted the 2017 Sovereign Award for Canada’s champion male sprinter at the awards ceremony Thursday. He also was favored in the Horse of the Year and older male categories, results of which weren’t available at press time.

Ikerrin Road, by Iffraaj
Last 3 Beyers: 97-99-85

◗ He won four times after getting claimed for $32,000 last spring by trainer Vito Armata, most notably the Grade 3 Bold Venture. He has been idle since checking in second in the six-furlong Kennedy Road.

“He needed a break because he’d been going all year round,” Armata said. “He’s pretty fit.”

Conquest Enforcer, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 94-70-91

◗ Canada’s champion male turf runner in 2016 is winless is his last seven outings, but he won the 2016 Queenston Stakes here convincingly for trainer Mark Casse.