Close menu
Indian Summer Preview: Ward’s Fillies Fit For A Fight
Kaufymaker (Credit: Keeneland Photo)

Indian Summer Preview: Ward’s Fillies Fit For A Fight

LEXINGTON, KY – Trainer Wesley Ward’s fillies Kaufymaker and Averly Jane seem fit for a fight against their male counterparts as they both drop their blinkers for Sunday’s $200,000 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland.

The Indian Summer is a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint restricted to 2-year-olds that serves as the eighth event on a 10-race card with a local post time of 4:44 PM. The race is also a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, awarding an automatic berth in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar this November.

CASH IN BIG AT THE BREEDERS' CUP!

Did you know active subscribers receive our Inside Track wagering guides absolutely FREE? Subscribe today and be the first to receive our upcoming MONSTER wagering guide to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup!

Here’s a look at the full field for the Indian Summer:

1. Sonnyisnotsofunny 5/1 – He broke his maiden on debut in a late July 5-furlong Ellis Park dirt sprint that he took by 8 3/4 widening lengths as part of a field of six which included a pair of next-out winners. He earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure that places him near the top of this group, but his older siblings are 0 for 12 on turf and his freshman sire American Freedom hasn’t produced a turf winner yet.

2. Kaufymaker 7/2 – Ward removes the blinkers that she wore in her first 3 starts (a 23% winning move) as she makes her second start on the turf after finishing third in the 6 1/2-furlong Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs. She should appreciate cutting back in distance and her last 2 starts (including the Coventry Stakes [G2] at Royal Ascot) came against males, so she won’t be intimidated.

3. Detroit City 30/1 – After failing to finish on the board in a pair of dirt sprints, he successfully broke through last time out in a 5 1/2-furlong dash over the Ellis Park turf. Jockey Adam Beschizza retains the mount for the second straight start after piloting this colt gate to wire, but his maiden-breaking race hasn’t come back very strong and the 49 Beyer he received is the field’s worst “best” on grass.

4. Pure Panic 15/1 – He broke his maiden on debut in a 5 1/2-furlong Ellis Park turf sprint, defeating the rival drawn directly to his outside in the process. Sonnyisnotfunny’s stablemate in the Mike Maker barn was second in the off-turf 5 1/2-furlong Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga and last of nine in the 1-mile Nownownow Stakes at Monmouth Park. He should at least be sharper cutting back here.

5. Big Boss Ben 30/1 – He broke his maiden at third asking in a 5 1/2-furlong Ellis Park turf sprint 1 start after finishing second to Pure Panic. He wasn’t nearly as successful last time out, however, suffering his lone off-the-board finish when sixth as the 3/2 favorite in the 5 1/2-furlong Rosie’s Stakes at Colonial Downs. The good news is that the top four horses from the Rosie’s ran well in their next starts.

6. Bonus Appreciation 12/1 – He adds blinkers for his fifth career start, a 14% winning move with just a $0.99 ROI for trainer Steve Asmussen, as he seeks his second victory and first since defeating off-turf maidens going 5 furlongs at Monmouth Park. He closed willingly for fourth behind Kaufymaker and two others in the Juvenile Sprint, so perhaps the blinkers will engage him early.

7. Averly Jane 4/5 – Ward tries for the second time to put this filly on turf after she dominated the rained-off Skidmore by 7 1/4 lengths in hand. Ward wins 31% of the time when his experienced 2-year-olds make their first starts on turf, her older half-brother won twice on turf including the 2018 Skidmore, and the 86 Beyer she earned for winning the Skidmore is the field’s best overall figure.

8. Roman Poet 50/1 – He broke his maiden on debut by 2 1/4 lengths despite steadying in a 5-furlong Gulfstream Park turf sprint. Privately purchased and sent to a new barn, he was disqualified to last of eight for interference in the Tyro Stakes, then finished fifth in a sloppy 6-furlong optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park. New trainer Tom Amoss wins 19% when debuting experienced runners.

9. Circle Back Jack 50/1 – He scratched out of a local dirt maiden special weight Saturday to stay on turf for the third straight start and face winners. He was a distant third behind winning Big Boss Ben, then finished second by 1 length in a 6 1/2-furlong Kentucky Downs sprint. Sire Tonalist produces just 9% turf winners and trainer Sarah Hamilton has just 16 total starters (through Friday).

10. Diamond City 4/1 – He invades from Woodbine having finished third in his first 2 starts, a 6-furlong turf sprint and a 7-furlong off-turf synthetic dash, before winning the 5-furlong Ontario Racing Stakes last time out by 1 3/4 lengths. The winner of his debut won a stakes next out and his lone sibling to race was second in April’s 1 1/16-mile Edgewood Stakes (G2) on the Churchill Downs lawn.

Join the Inner Circle

Sign Up