Dream of Summer takes A Gleam

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Dream of Summer took the track from favored Elloluv right out of the gate, then turned back her remaining rivals in en route to front-running victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 at Hollywood Park.

The A Gleam was the stakes debut for Dream of Summer, but she was given an outsider's chance based on a record that saw her win 4 of 5 previous races on the main track. A fast opening quarter, and equally fast second quarter, was too much for her rivals to overcome.

After covering the first quarter mile in 22.03 seconds, Dream of Summer ($20.60) hit the half-mile mark in 44.02 seconds and began to draw away. She had a 3 1/2-length lead with a furlong remaining, and maintained that margin to the finish while covering seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:21.16.

"I didn't think it would be that easy," said jockey Mike Smith, who rode Dream of Summer. "She left there with run on her mind, got out there and really relaxed."

Tucked Away rallied for second, with Elusive Diva third. Elloluv, making her first start since Dec. 27, faded to sixth in the field of nine.

"We expected she might need a race," said Corey Nakatani, who rode Elloluv. "The winner just ran away from us."

Juan Garcia trains Dream of Summer, a 5-year-old mare by Siberian Summer out of the Skywalker mare Mary's Dream. She is owned and was bred by James Weigel of Valencia, Calif. She has now won five times in seven starts, including a disastrous turf experiment in which she was eased.