In what in my opinion was one of the best finishes I have seen in a long time, La Canada Racehorses Test Of Time looked like she had complete control of this event on the front end, but in brilliant fashion, Estero Farms Eye Test would “test” the front runner right at the wire, and share the victory in a photo.

• Summertime Oaks- Grade II Purse $200.000
• Santa Anita Park- For Three year old Fillies
• Mile and a sixteenth- Main Track
• May 26th, 2019

For Test Of Time, she was definitely trying to show that her efforts in last years BC Juvenile Fillies event when she took to the lead, was not just a flash in the pan. Maturity and the ability of her trainer to stick to his values of this sophomore filly paid off here. This victory will definitely re-establish her as a force against Graded company competition once again. This will be La Canada’s eighth Grade II win.

As for Eye Test, while she has only competed in eight career starts, and didn’t finish quite so well at a mile event in the Gr. II Davona Dale race, her trainer still felt that longer was better. Just missing by a length after taking control in the Fantasy from an extreme outside post, she has proven that longer is better with a nice stalking effort here, and then firing home at the right time. She does have a non graded victory to her name, and now a Grade II title to add to her trainers six other Grade II victories.

As for the show money, a photo would make the determination of High On Haggis ( Winning Link Stables ) narrowly beating out Magic Command ( Allinthegate ) by a mere one one hundreds of a second. This was High On Haggis’ first ever Graded event, and she is starting to prove she has the heart to compete. On top of that, she finished ahead of her half sister Appealing Ginger who placed fifth.

With Magic Command, the sophomore chestnut was hoping that the Santa Anita surface was going to be as rewarding to her as it was in the Gr. II Las Virgenes. In that affair, she placed ahead of Test Of Time and took home the victory. Where she will be focused next could be interesting.

The final pairing of runners were Appealing Ginger ( The Sidley Stud ) and Polish Gemini ( Night Rider Stables ) . While Appealing Ginger would go off as the even money choice, She was definitely not in the hunt early enough to make a dent. Polish Gemini was the only runner to be plus 1:43 time for the event, and the Gr. I Ashland may have taken a little more out of her then expected.

Duffer

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES