Summering Takes $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf

DEL MAR, CA – Changing tactics from her wire-to-wire maiden-breaking debut, Glen Hill Farm’s homebred Summering sat just off the early pace before pouncing and proving much the best in Monday’s $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes.

Breaking sharply from post 6 as the heavy 1/5 favorite under meet-leading rider Drayden Van Dyke, Summering stalked just outside of Noble Contessa through opening fractions of :23.57, :48.91, and 1:13.58. Inching forward along the far turn, Summering straightened for home with the lead and a full head of steam. Under steady urging, the Tom Proctor trainee continued strongly through the wire, crossing with a 1 1/4-length advantage in a final time of 1:37.15 for the mile-long turf event.

“Today, I had what you’d call a golden trip,” Van Dyke said. “She was always there and fired big. And I had a tough time pulling her up; she wanted to keep on going. She’s a good one.”

Lady Prancealot closed from the rear of the field with a furious rally to take second, while Bizwhacks necked out third over Posh Holly. Noble Contessa faded to fifth, just necking out Kathryn’s Sky, while Hyde Park Corner took seventh. Imperial Creed, Be a Shero, After the Rose, and Angel Alessandra completed the order of finish in a four-way photo that had each separated by a nose.

Summering’s win was her second in as many starts following a similar mile-long effort over the Del Mar turf in late July. The 2-year-old daughter of War Front has now earned $96,000.

“This is a very special place for our family,” said Craig Bernick, who runs Glen Hill Farm. “It’s nice to have a filly like this – the fourth generation in the family that we’ve owned – win a stakes in her second start. We’ll go on to Santa Anita, and if she wins again, we’d consider the Breeders’ Cup, but she’d have to win well. One step at a time.”

Summering returned $2.60 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.20 to show. Lady Prancealot brought back $8.20 to place and $5.80 to show, while Bizwhacks paid $5.20 to show.