The 17th Running of the G1 Summer Stakes

Saturday, September 17, 2022

WO Race #4 $500.000

2YOs  120 Lbs 1 Turf

G1 BC JUVENILE TURF AUTO-QUALIFIER

Course Record-1:31.72 (Cleveland Browns-2012)

Stakes Record-1:32.97 (Generals Opus-2016)

WO is the place to bet for star-studded fields on the grass and the G1 Summer Stakes is no exception.  Eight juveniles will contests the $500.000 purse with hopes of earning an automatic birth in the BC Juvenile Turf at KEE in November.  Unlike the filly counterpart to this one, the eight runners in the G1 Summer have combined for just nine wins as Marching Orders is the field’s only entrant who has defeated winners (and in a stake to boot).  He is one of three in here that will be making their turf debut, but only three of the eight have ever won over the lawn.  Here’s the field for Saturday’s G1 Summer Stakes:

#1 Leaderfromhell (TwinTowersRacing/J.R. Velazquez): Front-running victor of a SAR MSW going this trip on the grass jumps into an even deeper pool this time.  That was his first spin on the lawn after just missing at LS after making all the running in a 5.5 main track contest.  Draws well in this spot if he wishes to continue with those tactics and like the fact that he keeps his pilot from his maiden-breaker.

#2 Giannis Yes (Aarons Hosses/E. Jaramillo): Debuted as a 15-length loser on the GG main track before returning as a winner in his next start 98 days later.  That win came at 8.5 on the turf and he showed a new dimension as he built an early lead before hanging on late.  Only three weeks since we last saw him, at least we know he has some early foot and he should get the trip.

#3 Duke Of Satire (Nakamura Stables/S. Elliott): Bested FP MSW foes after debuting 6th some three months earlier.  While it’s hard to glean much from those two starts, his turf exercises suggest he means business here.  Like the fact that he won by three lengths on the aforementioned reappearance and the work in the mornings suggests this is the right surface for him.  Figures to have a rail trip just off the pace, if he desires it, and that has proven to be a good spot to be in.   

#4 Muzzle (South Shore Stables/M. Franco): Broke the maiden at second-asking before stepping into stakes’ company.  Did no running at all in the G3 on the main track, but he was able to save the show after setting the pace in an overnight stake three weeks ago.  The latest effort was his first try on the lawn and he caught a less than good surface, so that may not be indicative of his best.

#5 Our Holiday (Our Athletes/J.S. Rocco Jr): Debuted on the main track in April before making a victorious return to the races in July.  The maiden-breaker was his first spin on the grass and he followed it up three weeks ago with a black type-earning effort  going 5.5 on a yielding course.  Has to conquer graded company and the distance, but he gets an upgrade in the pilot department for this assignment.

#6 Mediterranean Sea (Mo Mentum Farm/J. Stein): He’s made three starts locally, but all three were on the dirt, including the maiden-breaker when he caught a muddy course.  Tried $50.000 stake foes last time at HST where he was 4th while only beaten a length.  Picks pretty much the toughest spot available to make his turf debut, but the latest drill says there’s a reason he’s here.

#7 Marching Orders (Mb Stables/L. Saez): Debuted a winner going just a quarter of a mile before coming back with a runner-up effort in his first crack at winners.  Used a well-timed rally to take a $75.000 main track stake at BTP before we last saw him turn in a dud with a 9th-place finish in G3 Best Pal.  All four works since the G3 have been on the lawn and they appear to put him right in the mix for his turf debut.

#8 Applauding The Sin (Arindel/Mario Gutierrez): A winner at second asking, he’s alternating good/bad efforts thus far through four races.  Last seen turning in a runner-up effort in a $200.000 MTH stake, this would mean we should expect a poor effort this time…until you go a bit further down the page of works and see that last turf drill at BEL.  If that correlates to this trip, we may need to raise those expectations.

Final Analysis: Lightly-raced, unproven (for the most part) juvenile runners are not the sweet spot for us as we have to go more with a “gut” feel.  The feeling for this one is that they cross the wire 7-8-1 in the G1 Summer Stakes at WO.  Good luck to everyone on what should be an awesome day of racing!

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES