Pink Lloyd Looks to Defend Kennedy Road Title

Running 4-for-4 in 2020, which brings his win tally to 26 from 32 starts, Entourage Stable's 8-year-old Pink Lloyd has little left to prove. Already a six-time champion in Canada, including Horse of the Year in 2017, the gelded son of Old Forester  will be back in action Nov. 21 at his home track of Woodbine, where he will take on six others in the CA$175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes (G2). 

It will be the fourth time Pink Floyd has contested the six-furlong event on the all-weather track. The gelding won the Kennedy Road in 2017 and 2019 and was second in 2016. 

Racing exclusively at Woodbine, the 23-time stakes winner launched his 2020 campaign with a win in the June 25 Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3). He followed with another win in the July 23 Shepperton Stakes, added another victory in the Aug. 15 Bold Venture Stakes (G3), and most recently scored by a length in the Sept. 5 Vigil Stakes (G3). 

"We're both very happy," trainer Robert Tiller said. "He's doing well. We haven't run for 2 1/2 months, so we're in new territory. That's the big question: 'Is it going to help him or is it going to hurt him?' He's 8, but I can't worry about all of that stuff. I've done my job, and he's doing his job. I think he's in good order. 

"There are going to be some tough horses in there, some tough competition. But as far as Pink Lloyd's concerned, it's a horse race. We're going into it very happy, and I think he'll be very fit and happy. Hopefully, he's not too sharp because when he (is), he sometimes can get a little goofy at the gate."

Pink Lloyd has a five-race win streak and career earnings of $1,577,199. He will break from the outside post under Rafael Hernandez. 

Hoping to give Pink Lloyd a run for his money is trainer Mark Casse, who will send out a pair of competitors from posts 1 and 2. On the rail will be Florida-bred Souper Stonehenge, a Live Oak Plantation homebred 4-year-old son of Speightstown  who has yet to run in a stakes, and from just outside him is 5-year-old Ride a Comet, who is campaigned by John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm. Both come off victories.

"Souper Stonehenge is a horse that we've always thought was extremely talented," Casse said. "He had a throat issue that set him back, and we gave him some time. I thought his last race was really good. This is a big step for him."

Making only his second start of 2020 is Ride a Comet. The grade 2 winner scored by two lengths Oct. 16 in an allowance optional claimer at Woodbine. 

"This race is a little shorter than he prefers, but we've got to give him a shot," Casse said. "He's had a couple of injuries along the way, but he's very healthy now."

Eskiminzin, Silent Poet, Dixie's Gamble, and Roaring Forties complete the field. 

Entries: Kennedy Road S. (G2)

Woodbine, Saturday, November 21, 2020, Race 9

• Grade II
• 6f
• All Weather Track
• $175,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:28 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Souper Stonehenge (FL)	Emma-Jayne Wilson	121	Mark E. Casse	12/1
2	2Ride a Comet (KY)	Patrick Husbands	121	Mark E. Casse	5/2
3	3Eskiminzin (ON)	Darryll P. Holland	122	Carlos Grant	20/1
4	4Silent Poet (ON)	Justin Stein	126	Nicholas Gonzalez	2/1
5	5Dixie's Gamble (ON)	Luis Contreras	121	Josie Carroll	15/1
6	6Roaring Forties (FL)	Kazushi Kimura	121	Daniel J. Vella	20/1
7	7Pink Lloyd (ON)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	128	Robert P. Tiller	7/5