Bridgetown takes Summer Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Saratoga shipper Bridgetown polished off a quality field Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, , a Breeders' Cup Win and You're event.

Bridgetown ($10.80) tracked the front-running favorite, Stormy Lord, through quick fractions in the one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds.

Bridgetown assumed command at the three-sixteenths pole, and then coasted home on top by 1 1/2 lengths over Becky's Kitten, who nosed out Fantastico Roberto for third. Stormy Lord faded to fifth in the 10-horse field.

The victory secured Bridgetown a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Robert Landry rode the BC-nominated Bridgetown, who is trained by Ken McPeek.

Said Landry, "I spoke to Kenny this morning, and he wanted to try and settle him, without getting into a fight with him. He settled nicely, and when the time counted, he kicked. He could be a serious horse."

Bridgetown, who was making his stakes debut off a maiden win at Saratoga, covered the distance in 1:35.04. He banked $180,000 for Melnyk Racing Stable.

Bay to Bay holds on in Natalma

Bay to Bay ($9.10) held off 10-1 shot Jungle Tale in the final furlong to take the Grade 3, .

David Clark rode Bay to Bay, who dueled with the favored Irish invader, Elusive Galaxy, through moderate fractions in the one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies.

Bay to Bay took control early in the stretch, and prevailed by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:36.06 over the firm going.

Ernfold wound up another length and three-quarters back in third, after a troubled trip. Elusive Galaxy, who was 1-9 in the early wagering, finished fourth at even money in the nine-horse field.

Brian Lynch trains Bay to Bay, who earned $90,000 in her first stakes score for owner Robert Smithen.

Although the Natalma is a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In race, giving its winner a spot in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, Lynch was unsure of plans for Bay to Bay.

"She's not eligible to the Breeders' Cup, and there's a considerable supplement involved," said Lynch. "I'm going to have to talk to Mr. Smithen about it. She always showed that she's a little bit special. She's the best 2-year-old we've got in the barn right now."