Pink Lloyd Chases Vigil Stakes History

Pink Lloyd could make history July 14 in the $125,000 Vigil Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.

Entourage Stable's 7-year-old son of Old Forester would become the only three-time winner of the Vigil if he comes out on top in the six-furlong main track sprint.

Currently, the millionaire multiple stakes winner is tied with seven horses, including Nearctic, Kiridashi, and Wake At Noon, for the most Vigil wins. 

Trained by Robert Tiller, who will also send out 3 Sons Racing Stable's Circle of Friends, Pink Lloyd owns a career mark of 18-1-1 from 23 starts.

"Whether he wins another race or not, he's won 15 stakes and 18 races," Tiller said. "Do you remember the last horse that's done that here? Well, you never will. This horse is an icon. He's dear to our hearts. He's amazing. To get him over there, to do all those things over and over again, through different climates, conditions and injuries—he's a superstar. He's the best." 

The chestnut gelding is a multiple graded stakes winner, having also taken the Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) and the Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3).

In 2017, he won all eight of his starts en route to Sovereign Award honors as Canada's Horse of the Year, champion older male, and champion male sprinter. He was also named top male sprinter in 2018.

Pink Lloyd is 2-for-2 in 2019 after winning the Jacques Cartier and, most recently, the Greenwood, a 1 3/4-length score June 1 at the Toronto oval.

"There won't be another one like him," said Tiller, a 2008 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee who likened Pink Lloyd to one of golf's greatest stars.

"The name that pops to mind is Tiger Woods," the trainer added. "He came back and won the Masters after it looked like he was down and out. (Pink Lloyd) has had his fair share of problems over the years, even as a young horse, and he keeps coming back. He's pretty amazing. I think he's in good order, and he's going into this race very happy."

Eurico Rosa da Silva, Woodbine's leading rider and Pink's Lloyd's regular pilot, will be aboard for Sunday's tilt from the inside post in a field of seven. Pink Lloyd will carry high weight of 127 pounds.

"Whether he wins or loses, he's overcome a lot of things," Tiller said. "He's the greatest horse I've ever trained. He has his quirky things that make him happy. We understand him and he understands us. When it's all over, he'll get a great home. We've already got that planned. There'll never be another one like him. That's all I can say. I love him to death."

Entries: Vigil S. (G3)

Woodbine, Sunday, July 14, 2019, Race 8

• Grade III
• 6f
• All Weather Track
• $125,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:55 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Pink Lloyd (ON)	Eurico Rosa Da Silva	127	Robert P. Tiller	3/5
2	2Dixie's Gamble (ON)	Luis Contreras	118	Josie Carroll	7/2
3	3Marten Lake (ON)	Kazushi Kimura	118	Martin Drexler	6/1
4	4Wyatt's Town (KY)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	122	Norman McKnight	15/1
5	5Eskiminzin (ON)	Jeffrey Ian Alderson	120	Carlos Grant	20/1
6	6Circle of Friends (ON)	Patrick Husbands	118	Robert P. Tiller	15/1
7	7Sable Island (ON)	Emma-Jayne Wilson	118	Gordon C. Colbourne	12/1