The 16th Running of the G1 Summer Stakes
September 19, 2021 14:30
WO Race #5 $400.000 1-Mile Turf
2YOs 120 Lbs
Track Record-1:31.72 (Cleveland Browns-2012)
Stakes Record-1:32.97 (Generals Opus-2016)
The G1 BC Juvenile Turf is the ultimate goal for the 11 juveniles who have signed-on for the G1 Summer Stakes and the winner of Sunday’s 2yo battle will gain an automatic birth. The one-mile turf contest offers a $400.000 purse and has drawn a very competitive field for the 2021 renewal. Trainer Mb Stables (2014, 2016, 2019, 2020) will be looking for his 5th win in the WO staple and jockey J.R. Velazquez (2016, 2018) is the only rider with two wins. Here is the field for the $400.000 G1 Summer Stakes from WO:
#1 The Tonight Show (Rock Creek/S.X. Bridgmohan): Rail horse made two sprints to start his career breaking his maiden on debut and then just missing in the Hickory Tree. He was purchased for $185.000 after the 2nd race and will make his debut for the new barn at the top level and over a route of ground. Looks to be improving and should be able to be involved for a large piece of this.
#2 Oxo Way (The Sidley Stud/E. Jaramillo): Lost three straight on the dirt to begin his career, but has been a different horse on the lawn with two straight wins entering here. Second win came at the stake level as he took the $75.000 Proud Man at GP last month. Looking at his works, the distance does not appear to be a problem and should have every chance to prove he’s good enough from this post.
#3 Next Edition (Mb Stables/C.J. Hernandez): First of two entered for his conditioner, but he will not be joined by his stablemate for this affair after that runner was withdrawn. Could that be because of the difference in draws or the trainer’s confidence in this guy? This guy broke his maiden on dirt at first asking before returning at the Spa to just miss in a first level allowance. Barn’s lone hope to make it five of these definitely looks the part.
#4 Cross Eyed Baby (Gdp Inc/A. Beschizza): Another that won at first asking, this guy tried a dirt allowance, where he was third, before tackling stakes horses on the grass in Tyro near-miss. Like plenty in here, tough to find many drawbacks, but he’ll have to show continued improvement and an affinity for routing to get his number put up in this one.
#5 Justinian (Nakamura Stables/V.R. Carrasco): Five pony has two wins from three career starts on dirt to start his career and makes his turf debut in G1 company. 5f works are similar on both surfaces and worked a good mile on the dirt, so guessing this fellas has shown some talent on the farm to jump in this pool. Nothing on paper says he can’t get it done, but gonna watch one before getting on his bandwagon.
#6 Fire Marshall Bill (Jive Inc/D. Moran): One win from three dirt starts to begin his career before trying $120.000 Skidmore in his turf debut. Ran 2nd beaten only a length in that 5.5f contest and comes here looking to improve on that effort. Showed a great deal more speed in his turf outing than his dirt tries, so will be interesting to see his tactics leaving from the middle of this field.
#7 The Godfather (Smokey Stover/Mario Gutierrez): Got nipped in April debut at SA before finding the winner’s circle in CD MSW at second asking. Tried the G2 SAR Special last time where he ran 7th after being involved early. Strong work on September 2 probably all of the motivation conditioner needed to send him here and looks to be very dangerous in this spot.
#8 The Great Unmasking (TwinTowersRacing/S. Ryan): Maiden after two dirt tries as well as a turf run will be hunting his first win of any kind in this G1. Has run well enough in those three races to earn his spot here and looks to be a better horse on the lawn. Tricky post for a horse that doesn’t want the lead, but doesn’t want to be very far back either. Taking a wait and see approach for this.
#9 Peace Arch (Woogaloo/F. Pennington): Free track debuter never ran a step in the mud before going to the new barn for $7.000 in the June auction. Returned to finish 2nd in the G3 With Anticipation at SAR. So still a maiden; however, any type of similar improvement here makes him a major player. The quick turnaround may not be a factor since he had a long break between his first two runs and he may still have improvement in him, but hard to endorse maidens in G1 races.
#10 Schmidt (Acber Farms/R.A. Vazquez): One win in three runs, with only a 7th beaten two lengths on turf. That was his first run against winners and he was making-up ground in that 5.5f SAR ALW. If he continues with that style, this post may not be as bad as it first appears, but he’ll still be tasked with passing some quality individuals in the stretch. Could see him in the exotics.
#11 Ubiquitous (Mb Stables): SCRATCHED
#12 Yang Gang (D J C Racing Stables/T. Gaffalione): Skidmore winner broke his maiden in that SAR stakes race and wheels right back for this. Could be worth noting that the turf MSW run was on a soggy course while the win last month was on dry ground. This post doesn’t do him any favors as he has been forwardly-placed in all three runs. If he can get early position without expending a ton of energy, he can be dangerous…unless the ground comes-up softer than firm. Still, as a stakes winner, he rates a solid chance.
Final Analysis: 7-3-2 in a wide-open affair where no result would shock. Good luck to everyone involved in the $400.000 G1 Summer Stakes at WO!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
