Yorkton upsets Pink Lloyd in Bold Venture Stakes at Woodbine

Woodbine’s Grade 3, $125,000 Bold Venture Stakes was off to a wild start Saturday. Race favorite and reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd broke through the gates early before Yorkton led gate-to-wire as a runaway winner.

“He’s been a nice little horse,” said winning trainer Stuart Simon. “He’s really matured a lot in the last two months. He’s probably put on 50 pounds. I was really confident he’d run well today.”

Pink Lloyd lost rider Eurico Da Silva during his premature departure and was caught by an outrider. Da Silva, who got up on his own, hopped back on for the start but his mount did not break sharp.

Yorkton, under Jesse Campbell, was the fastest out of the gate. The 4-year-old Speightstown colt led early fractions of 22.79 and 45.49 over the synthetic track before finishing the 6 ½ furlongs over the synthetic surface in 1:15.05.

“We discussed Plan B,” Campbell said of the pace scenario. “When Pink Lloyd did what he did, Plan A kind of came to the forefront. Speaking about this horse, my hat’s off to this horse. He ran right through the bridle today. I’ve loved this horse since he was a 2-year-old.”

Sweet Little Man and Battle in Seattle rallied for second and third, finishing 5 ¼ lengths behind Yorkton. 

Pink Lloyd tried to get going late but finished fifth, his first time out of the money in almost two years. Snapping an 11-race win streak two starts back, Pink Lloyd rebounded last time out before the Bold Venture incident.

The win gave Yorkton, a hombred for Chiefwood Stables in Ontario, his first graded victory.