After finishing seventh in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes over the Franklin, Ky., track's undulating course, Summer in Saratoga found much friendlier ground at Keeneland Race Course, taking the Grade 3 Dowager Stakes by a half-length.
Over a good turf course at the Lexington, Ky., track, the 5-year-old mare did not let a delayed start deter her in the 1 1/2-miles stakes. Under jockey Corey Lanerie, Summer in Saratoga broke cleanly and settled in toward the back of the field of 10. Eesha My Flower led the way, setting fractions of :23.80 for the first quarter, :48.93 for the half-mile, and 1:14.77 for six furlongs, an easy pace that allowed her to run on the lead around the far turn and into the stretch.
Lanerie angled Summer in Saratoga off the rail on the far turn and then angled her out again in early stretch, finding a clear running lane two paths off the rail as Eesha My Flower flattened out and gave way. Summer in Saratoga overtook her midstretch, getting out to a two-length length as Luck Money accelerated to her outside. Summer in Saratoga held on to win the G3 Dowager, with Luck Money and Micheline rounding out the top three.
The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:30.02. Find this race's chart here.
Summer in Saratoga paid $12.80, $5.20, and $4.20. Luck Money paid $3.40 and $2.80. Micheline paid $5.20.
Bred in Kentucky by My Meadowview LLC, Summer in Saratoga is by Hard Spun out of the Arch mare Love Theway Youare, a Grade 1 stakes winner. Owned by Highlander Training Center, the 5-year-old mare is trained by Joe Sharp. Consigned by Denali Stud, she was purchased by Larry Hirsch for $165,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale. With her win in the G3 Dowager, Summer in Saratoga has three wins in six starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 16 starts and career earnings of $479,572.
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