Are You Kidding Me was no joke in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,250
Kent,
seizing control leaving the chute and leading his rivals on a merry chase over 1
1/8 miles on the firm Delaware Park turf course.
Comfortably setting a pace of :25 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:11 3/5, Are You Kidding
Me was shaken up by jockey Rajiv Maragh approaching the quarter pole and then
scooted clear to win by four lengths in a time 1:47 3/5, just two-fifths off the
course record set by Optimizer in the 2012 Kent. The 7-5 favorite, Are You
Kidding Me paid $4.80 to win.
Michael With Us and Hard Enough were separated by a head in the $62,000
Restoration at Monmouth Park last month, and the margin between them was the
same at the finish of the Kent. While Hard Enough won the Restoration, Michael
With Us got some measure of revenge by edging his rival for runner-up honors
here. The order of finish was completed by Readyshakego, Majestic Jess, Fear the
Kitten, and Grand Tito. Saint Vigeur was scratched.
A son of Run Away and Hide, Are You Kidding Me races for Ronald Kirk, John
Bates and Michael Riordan, who bred the colt in Kentucky along with Greg
McDonald, Shaw & Sones. Are You Kidding Me is based at Woodbine with trainer
Roger Attfield.
A maiden winner in his third start, Are You Kidding Me concluded his juvenile
campaign with a second-place effort in the Summer at Woodbine and a fifth in the
Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
The bay kicked off his sophomore campaign with a photo-finish loss in a
stakes-quality allowance at Tampa Bay Downs, won by Grade 2 winner Noble Tune.
Unplaced in three of his next four outings, Are You Kidding Me preceded this win
with a fine second in the $125,000 Toronto Cup at Woodbine. His record now
stands at 13-3-3-2, $301,689.
Are You Kidding Me is the first foal out of the Street Cry mare Sweet
Awakening, a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Recapturetheglory. This extended
family has also yielded multiple Grade 3 winners Silverfoot and Rotsaluck, as
well as Grade 3 victor Chilly Rooster.
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