Big Summer has first stakes win in Sunshine Millions Filly/Mare Turf Sprint
ARCADIA, Calif. – California stallion Mr. Big has emerged as one of the top sires on the West Coast, and broodmare Ultimate Summer has earned a reputation as a top stakes producer.
Combine the sire and dam, and the result is the winner of the $200,500 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on Saturday at Santa Anita.
Big Summer, a 5-year-old mare sired by Mr. Big and produced by Ultimate Summer, scored a minor upset in the 6 1/2-furlong hillside turf sprint for California-breds. She benefitted from a heady ride from Joe Bravo.
Bravo and trainer Carla Gaines discussed the pace scenario and speed-friendly course profile, and agreed to put Big Summer into the race. That is, allow her to use her speed. Bravo and Big Summer rolled inside to make the lead after the first quarter-mile, shook off favorite Alice Marble and won by three-quarters of a length. Eddie’s New Dream finished second; Alice Marble finished third.
Big Summer ($9.80) was winning her first stakes, and joins a growing list of Mr. Big stakes winners. Those include Big Score, Big City Lights, Big Book, and Big Sweep. Big Summer is the third stakes winner produced by Ultimate Summer, following Tribalist and Ultimate Bango.
Big Summer, whose first trainer was Blake Heap, is owned by breeders Bob Abrams and Mitch Dutko, and Michael Paran. When Heap relocated to Kentucky last year, Big Summer’s owners transferred her to Gaines. The stakes race on Saturday was Big Summer’s fifth start for Gaines; she has three wins and two seconds since the transfer.
The emergence of Big Summer gives Gaines two top Cal-bred mares for the winter-spring season. Her stakes winner Closing Remarks finished a promising second in her recent comeback in a Grade 3.
Big Summer has won four races and $315,160 from 11 starts.
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