2017 Vigil Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G3 Vigil Stakes comes our way this Sunday, July 16 from Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Horses three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Woodbine's All Weather Track and race seven furlongs for the winner's share of the $125,000 purse.

A field of six will give it a go in the Vigil Stakes - race 8 on Woodbine's Sunday schedule. Post time is 4:58 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all six entries for this competitive G3 stakes.

2017 Vigil Stakes Entries at Woodbine Racetrack

Pink Lloyd 3-5

Impressive Robert Tiller trained gelding has six wins and a second-place finish in his eight career starts - all on this track. He enters on a nice three-race minor stakes win streak - the Achievement Stakes last time out June 10, the New Providence Stakes May 6 and the Jacques Cartier Stakes April 15. Before that was a respectable second in his only graded stakes action to date - the G2 Kennedy Road Stakes in November. Pink Lloyd has been impressive the last eight months and hopes to keep a roll going from post 3. Eurico Rosa Da Silva rides the 124-pound highweight and overwhelming morning line favorite.

Riker 7-2

Canada's Sovereign Award winner as 2015 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and multiple stakes winner has 12 career starts for trainer Nicholas Gonzalez with five wins He hasn't looked great lately however - a fifth last time out in the G2 Eclipse Stakes May 20 followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score April 29, a sixth in a similar race at Gulfstream March 16, another sixth in an Allowance here last July, a fifth in the G3 Marine Stakes on this track last May, an eighth in the G3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland April 16 and consecutive sixths - the G2 Tampa Bay Derby March 12 and the 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He did post a win before that however his stakes graded stakes debut - the G3 Grey Stakes in October, 2015. Riker was untouchable in his first four career starts but hasn't looked the same since. He looks to hit the board for just the second time in his last nine starts when he leaves from the rail with Jesse Campbell aboard the second betting choice.

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Tale of the Nile 6-1

Michael Trombetta trained gelding has four wins, two seconds and a third-place finish in 14 career starts. He makes his graded stakes debut Sunday off an Allowance Optional Claiming score June 25, a fourth in an Allowance in October, an OK second in the minor Presque Isle Downs Mile September 18 and three straight wins last summer including two Allowance races - all at Presque Isle Downs. Tale of the Nile has been decent against lesser competition and hopes it translates in his major step up in competition. Willie Martinez has the mount.

Great Wide Open 8-1

Irish bred Conor Murphy trained gelding has just four wins, two seconds and four third place finishes in 25 career starts. He was OK in 22 starts at home and has struggled in his three North American races. An eighth last time out in the G2 Connaught Cup Stakes here June 3 followed a fourth in the minor Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont Park April 29 and a tenth in the minor Bonapaw Stakes at Fair Grounds December 17. Great Wide Open hasn't been all that impressive but will be out to make some noise Sunday from gate 4. David Moran will be in the irons.

We Deer You 12-1

Lightly raced Michael Trombetta trained gelding has five career starts with three wins. He makes his stakes debut Sunday on a two-race wins streak - an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out at Belmont Park June 25 and an Allowance on this track May 27. He failed to place in his previous two starts. We Deer You has certainly been trending upward ahead of this weekend and looks ready for his major step up in competition with Gary Boulanger in the saddle from gate 2.

Western Elegance 20-1

Has just five wins in 31 career starts to go along with 10 seconds and three third-place finishes. He won three of four starts at this time last year including an Allowance Optional Claiming and a Starter Optional Claiming but has been less-than-spectacular since. Last time out was a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Arlington June 17 which followed eight months away, a fifth and consecutive fourths in Allowance races last fall. His only graded stakes result was a fourth in the G3 Bold Venture Stakes on this track last July 23. Western Elegance searches for a career-defining win and for a first podium finish in stakes action when he leaves from post 5 with Santo Sanjur guiding him.

2017 Vigil Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 8 on Woodbine's Sunday card with a Post Time of 4:58 PM.