Shepperton Preview: Pink Lloyd Sets Sights on Yet Another Record

TORONTO, ON – Canada’s legendary sprinter Pink Lloyd has his sights set on yet another record, this time a third edition of the $100,000 Shepperton Stakes on Thursday at Woodbine.

Accomplishing the feat would tie Pink Lloyd with Paso Doble for the most wins in the event. Pink Lloyd won the 2017 and 2019 editions, while Paso Doble took his treble in 2011, 2013, and 2014.

The Shepperton is a 6 1/2-furlong sprint over Woodbine’s synthetic main track that is restricted to Ontario-sired horses ages 3 and up. The race was rescheduled from Sunday after only four entries (including Pink Lloyd’s) were received.

Here is a look at the full field for Thursday’s Shepperton, which is the penultimate event on an eight-race card:

1. Pink Lloyd 1/9 – The venerable King of the North has not officially lost a race since the Overskate Stakes on October 27, 2018, the same year when he missed winning this race after blowing the start. At this point in his career, the 8-year-old Old Forester gelding is left trying to see how many times he can take the different Woodbine stakes, such as the case last time out when he won his record fourth Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3).

2. Souper Success 20/1 – A stakes winner at age 3, he has done his best running at shorter distances; both attempts beyond 6 furlongs resulted in off-the-board finishes. He missed winning his 2020 debut (a local 5-furlong dash) by a 1/2-length but failed to run well on turf in his most recent effort. His best shot at an upset will be trying to set an uncatchable pace from the get-go.

3. Silent Jimmie 20/1 – He has much to overcome in this tall task, with just 1 victory from his past 18 starts over the local turf and synthetic courses. That win did occur in a 7-furlong turf sprint, so unlike some of his competition, he should have no problem navigating this race’s distance and could hit the board at a square price.

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4. Magical Man 12/1 – After winning a 7-furlong optional claiming event over the local strip last September, he was second in the 2019 Overskate Stakes at the same distance and fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton Stakes. Though unraced since late November, he has been working well leading up to his 2020 debut and is a candidate to hit the board.

5. Dun Drum 20/1 – He won stakes at ages 2 (the Kingarvie on synthetic) and 3 (the Vice Regent on turf), both times with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard. Traffic troubles led to a disappointing 2020 debut effort over the local turf, but the deep closer returns to the synthetic course and reunites with Wilson.

6. Not So Quiet 5/1 – He poses the biggest threat on paper to the the morning line favorite as he makes his third start of the year. He returned from an 18-month layoff to win a local 5-furlong jaunt on June 6, then ran third behind Pink Lloyd in the Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3) 19 days later.