Summer Sunday Wires Belle Mahone

TORONTO, ON – Anne and William Scott’s Summer Sunday took the field gate to wire to win Saturday’s $100,000 Belle Mahone Stakes at Woodbine.

Summer Sunday broke from post 3 under Rafael Hernandez as the 9/2 second choice and set opening fractions of :23.64, :47.34, and 1:11.39 while the 2/5 favorite Souper Escape gave closest chase.

Though Art of Almost and Souper Escape were all-out in the stretch to catch her, Summer Sunday held sway to win by a 1/2-length.

The Stuart Simon trainee completed the 1 1/16-mile fast synthetic event in 1:44.08.

Art of Almost held second by a neck over Souper Escape.

Silent Tango, Auntie Katherine, Strike At Dawn, and Royal Wedding completed the order of finish.

Painting (who won the Ontario Fashion Stakes [G3] earlier on the card) and Saratoga Vision were scratched.

Summer Sunday’s win was her second straight following a local 6-furlong optional claiming sprint and improved her overall record to 15-9-1-1. The Ontario-bred 5-year-old Silent Name mare, purchased for $72,485 as a yearling, has now earned $615,122.

Summer Sunday returned $11.90 to win, $5.90 to place, and $2.60 to show. Art of Almost brought back $7.70 to place and $2.90 to show, while Souper Escape paid $2.10 to show.