12/5/2020

  2   AQU    The Demoiselle (GII)     [KYO]
       $150.000         2yoF           1 1/8m  Dirt          2yo 120lbs  +penalties

How about the Green Card handing out exactas?  How about Hot Summer proving that she doesn’t need warm weather to get the job done…  The gray filly sat just off of the early pace in Saturday’s Demoiselle (GII) and seemed to move to the lead when ever she wanted, clearing the field nearing the furlong marker and going under the wire in front by a length in a final time of 1:49.06 for the mile and an eighth stakes on the fast AQU main track.  Sundress closed from well off of the pace to grab the second spot, and it wouldn’t be a proper finish without a dead-heat, and we had Break From Holly and Lucky Insist getting that done for us in the third spot(s). 

The field of eleven loaded into the gate right at the finish line and were away with a real battle for the early lead with Awesome Fire, Rotation, Break From Holly, Hawaii County, Hot Summer and Unrestricted Asian across the track.  Residue In The Sand and Sundress just in behind that wall, Fuzzy Lovin was next, then back to the early trailers, Lucky Insist and Ropa Vieja.

Move around the clubhouse turn and onto the backside, now a bit more that six furlongs to run, Rotation was in front by a length, Awesome Fire just behind and to her inside hugging the rail, a gap of two back to Break From Holly on the inside, Unrestricted Asian in the five path, another length to Hot Summer, Residue In The Sand towards the inside of Hawaii County, another length and a half to Fuzzy Lovin, Sundress on her inside, then the trailing duo of Lucky Insist and Ropa Vieja, eight lengths covered the field.

They make their way down the backside and nearing the far turn with a half mile to run, Rotation continued to show the way but Awesome Fire was now a length back and towards her inside.  A gap of three back to Break From Holly still saving ground, Hot Summer in the three path and Residue In The Sand between that pair.  Two lengths back to Unrestricted Asian, Hawaii Country on her inside, then a gap of two back to the trio of Sundress between horses, Lucky Insist on her inside, Fuzzy Lovin on her outside and Ropa Vieja could see them all, ten lengths from front to back.

Swing around the far turn and to the top of the lane, just two furlongs left to run and we had five across the track… Rotation by a half length, Awesome Fire continuing to track that one from her inside as the trio of Hot Summer in the five path, Break From Holly and Residue In The Sand were now in the mix.  It was a gap of three back to a line that included Hawaii County on the rail, Unrestricted Asian, Sundress on her outside and Lucky Insist, Fuzzy Lovin swinging out wide for the drive and Ropa Vieja continued to trail.

Inside the final furlong and to the finish, Hot Summer up quickly to take the lead as Rotation was looking weary from the pace, Sundress now full of run along with Awesome Fire and Lucky Insist… but as they neared the finish, this was all about Hot Summer as she went clear by a length and took the win.  Sundress closed well to take second, then the dead heat of Break From Holly and Lucky Insist in third.  Awesome Fire was fifth, Rotation tiring to sixth, Residue In The Sand seventh, Hawaii County eighth, Fuzzy Lovin ninth, then Unrestricted Asian and Ropa Vieja finishing on even terms in tenth.  

Hot Summer is a gray 2yo filly by Que Niagra – Gigafactory, by Cherokee Sunset, and she was bred by her owner, D J C Racing Stables, in NY.  This was her second win from eight starts, but she has been on the board in all of those trips to the gate.  She now has earnings of $650.400. 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast              Time: :47⁴  1:11³  1:36²  1:49
$1 Exacta: 6 – 3 Paid 60.90    $1 Trifecta: 6 – 3 – 1 Paid 703.10, 6 – 3 – 8 Paid 141.40
Scratched: None
Dead Heat for third place

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES