Slow fractions help Are You Kidding Me repeat in Eclipse Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Are You Kidding Me got away with dawdling fractions before drawing away late to take the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes for the second year in a row at Woodbine on Saturday.

Are You Kidding Me ($4.60) set splits of 25.51 seconds, 50.50, and 1:14.91 while being pressed by Melmich in the 1 1/16-mile route. After opening up a clear lead at the sixteenth pole, he coasted home on top by two lengths under Alan Garcia.

“He used to run in front,” said Garcia. “It worked out good. There was a slow pace. He was comfortable. Turning for home, I asked him to go, and he took off.”

Breaking Lucky rallied to finish second by a 1 1/4 lengths over a tiring Melmich. Florida Won, Peyton, and Ami’s Holiday completed the order of finish.

Are You Kidding Me was Canada’s champion older male runner in 2015 for trainer Roger Attfield. A son of Run Away and Hide, Are You Kidding Me earned $120,000 of the $209,200 purse for the partnership of Michael Riordan, Ron Kirk, and John Bates.