Summer in Saratoga notched her third Stakes victory of the year – and her first Graded Stakes win – when she turned back the late challenge from Luck Money to win the G3 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes by a half-length at Keeneland October 24.
The five-year-old Hard Spun mare, who was trying 12 furlongs for the first time in her career, was winning for the sixth time in 16 career starts.
Summer in Saratoga was settled toward the back of the field of ten as Eesha My Flower led the way through the opening six furlongs of the marathon contest. Jockey Corey Lanerie angled Summer in Saratoga off the rail on the far turn, then split rivals at the top of the lane to take the lead. Summer in Saratoga then held off a late challenge from Luck Money to win by a half-length.
Bred by My Meadowview LLC in Kentucky, Summer in Saratoga is out of G1 Vanity Handicap winner Love Theway Youare, who was also placed in the G1 Santa Margarita. Love Theway Youare is out of Listed winner and G3-placed Diversa, who also is the dam of Stakes-placed Dirty Swagg. Interestingly, this is also the family of G1 winner Gretzky the Great (by Nyquist), multiple G2 winner Tower of Texas (by Street Sense) and G2 winner Street Sounds, by deceased Darley stallion Street Cry.
Summer in Saratoga is the second Stakes winner of the weekend for Hard Spun, whose son Mohs took the Hawthorne Derby on Saturday. Hard Spun is also represented by additional 2021 Stakes winners Silver State (G1 Met Mile and a leading contender for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile), Antoinette (G3 The Very One Stakes), Caddo River (Listed Smarty Jones) and Tightly Twisted.
