Pink Lloyd seeks rebound in Vigil Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pink Lloyd had his 11-race win streak snapped in the restricted Shepperton Stakes on July 8, and he will look to bounce back Sunday against open company in the Grade 3, $125,000 Vigil Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward over six furlongs on Woodbine’s Tapeta.

Pink Lloyd broke sharply and was pressed by Boreal Spirit early in the Shepperton Stakes before fading to third behind Kingsport and Jacks Escarpment. Trainer Robert Tiller said Pink Lloyd might not have been at 100 percent for his start in the Shepperton.

“He spiked a little temperature a couple days after the race so he might have had a little bug in him,” he said. “We treated him for it and we gave him the week off and he’s bounced right back. I don’t see any reason why he won’t run this weekend right now.”

Tiller said Pink Lloyd has been training well in the lead-up to the Vigil. He breezed four furlongs in 48.80 seconds here on the main track July 22.

“He came out of it and he’s very good right now – he’s happy and bouncy,” he said. “His temperature went down right away.”

Key Contenders

Pink Lloyd, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 91-101-101

◗ Pink Lloyd will look to repeat in the Vigil after winning the race as part of his unbeaten 2017 campaign. In last year’s Vigil, he went gate to wire to win by 2 1/4 lengths over We Deer You.

◗ Tiller has also entered Circle of Friends in the Vigil, with Pink Lloyd’s regular rider, Eurico Da Silva, also named to the mount.

Sweet Grass Creek, by Wando
Last 3 Beyers: 91-90-90

◗ He finished fifth behind Pink Lloyd in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes last November, but came back to win his seasonal debut in an allowance event over 6 1/2 furlongs June 24.

◗ He has placed in five stakes and seeks his first stakes victory in the Vigil.

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

◗ He’s finished second in three consecutive stakes starts, including when he caught Pink Lloyd at the wire to finish second in the Shepperton.

◗ Despite several close calls in recent starts, his last victory came almost two years ago in the 2016 Kenora Stakes.

Yorkton, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 89-90-76

◗ He’ll return to Tapeta following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes on turf June 2.

◗ He earned a 90 Beyer in an allowance win on Tapeta on May 12.

◗ He has worked quickly in the lead-up to this race.

◗ He’ll be reunited with jockey Jesse Campbell, who rode him four times last season, including in a win in the King Corrie Stakes.

Sweet Romance, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 90-84-69

◗ He’s won back-to-back starts to begin his 2018 campaign, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in a second-level allowance win over 6 1/2 furlongs on turf May 21.

◗ He makes his stakes debut in the Vigil.