Are You Kidding Me Draws Clear in Eclipse Win
Image:
Description:
Fourth in last year's Eclipse Stakes (Can-II) , Are You Kidding Me made amends in this year's edition of the race June 7 with an easy off the pace win at Woodbine.
Stalking from third under Alan Garcia, Are You Kidding Me was angled out late on the turn and ran down pacesetter Midnight Aria in the final sixteenth. He pulled clear under a hand ride, winning by 1 1/2 lengths win as the 3-1 second choice.
Favorite Za Approval pressed from second but flattened out in the drive to take third, 3 1/4 lengths back.
Final time for 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack main track was 1:42.76. With the victory, Are You Kidding Me halted a five-race winless drought since taking the 2013 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park for trainer Roger Attfield.
Entering off a third-place finish in the San Francisco Mile (gr. IIIT) April 25 at Golden Gate Fields in his 2015 debut, he improved his career line to 4-3-4 from 19 career starts.
"He has had a few problems with his wind and what have you," Attfield said after Sunday's race. "But we've got him in good shape right now. I said to Alan today, 'If I'm where I think I am with this horse, he will win'. He's a lovely horse, he really is.
"We thought to run him in California this winter would be better than taking him to Florida. (Another Hall of Famer) Neil Drysdale looked after him there and did a great job with the horse. If everything stays right (with him), he'll be a major contender here among the older horses."
Are You Kidding Me returned $9.50, $4.70, and $2.90, and Midnight Aria paid $4.40 and $3.30. Za Approval returned $2.60 to show.
Avie's Quality was fourth and His Race to Win checked in fifth and last. Florida Won was scratched.
Are You Kidding Me is campaigned by co-breeders John Bates, Ron Kirk, and Michael Riordan. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Run Away and Hide is out of the Street Cry mare Sweet Awakening, a half sister to 2008 Illinois Derby (gr. II) winner Recapturetheglory.