Woodbine: I’m Boundtoscore goes gate to wire in Summer Stakes

Michael Burns

I'm Boundtoscore earns a fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for his gate-to-wire victory in the Grade 2 Summer at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The aptly named Kentucky shipper I’m Boundtoscore led all the way to post an upset in the $251,000 Summer Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday, earning a fees-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in the Win and You’re In contest.

I’m Boundtoscore set moderate fractions under Sarah Rook in the one-mile route for 2-year-olds, which was contested over yielding turf. Are You Kidding Me, who won the allowance prep for the Grade 2 Summer, closed strongly from the back of the pack, but his bid fell a half-length short of I’m Boundtoscore, who got the distance in 1:37.75.

“We broke on top,” Rook said. “I tried to get him to settle a little more than he did, but that’s what he wanted to do. If I fought with him anymore, it wasn’t going to work out, so I got him to relax as much as I could. Once the other horses starting coming to us, I let him roll on. He’s a very game horse.”

I’m Boundtoscore ($23.50) banked $150,000 in his first stakes victory for the partnership of Joe Davis and trainer Troy Rankin.

Indiano Jones outran favored Best Play for third, and second-choice Archer Hill checked in seventh in the eight-horse field.