Pink Lloyd Tackles Five Rivals in Ontario Jockey Club

Seeking his fifth Sovereign award for champion sprinter, Canadian champion Pink Lloyd  takes on five rivals in the Nov. 7 CA$100,000 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes at Woodbine.

Bred in Ontario by John Carey and owned by Entourage Stable, the venerable 9-year-old gelding, a 27-time winner, arrives at the six-furlong Tapeta event for Ontario-sired 3-year olds and up off his second straight Bold Venture Stakes (G3) score.

Trained by Robert Tiller, the son of Old Forester   will carry the top weight of 124 pounds for the Ontario Jockey Club. Pink Lloyd will once again have Rafael Hernandez in the irons, who has partnered with Pink Lloyd regularly since 2020 following Eurica Rosa Da Silva's retirement from the saddle.

"This horse, he's really strong and he can do anything you want from him," said Hernandez. "He can get you in a good spot, but if you get into a tough spot, he can always find a way out. Last time, in the Bold Venture, there didn't appear to be much speed in the race. Was someone going to come and try to go with him fast early and then I wouldn't have anything left in the end, or were they thinking that he's a veteran horse and we'll let him go? Another horse tried to go for the lead, but he couldn't get to him. So, we had the lead and we went from there."

Pink Lloyd, a namestay at the Woodbine oval for the past five years, has been a fan favorite at the races. Hernandez counts himself as one of Pink Lloyd's proudest supporters.

"He has so many stakes (wins) and he's a favorite horse of everybody, not just for me, not just for Bob Tiller, not just for his owner, but for the racetrack. I know people come to Woodbine just to see him."

Hernandez hopes Pink Lloyd can add to his lofty list of successes Sunday.

"I talk to him, even before the race starts. I tell him, 'You take me where you want to go and do your thing. I'm going to wait for you to switch your lead and let you go.' When we go in the gate, I tell him to relax. He wants to go, but I take a hold and say, 'Not yet. Just hold on.' After the wire, we both breathe and I tell him, 'We did it, buddy. Good job.' Right now, I'm thinking about riding him in the race and it makes me smile. Every time I talk about him in an interview after the race, I tell them I am just a passenger. You need the horse to win the race. You can't say that you won the race. You need a good driver. With this horse, I am happy to be the driver."