Golden Gate Fields: Summer Hit uncatchable in All American

The improving Summer Hit ($4.60) rated nicely on an uncontested lead and scored his first graded stakes victory Monday at Golden Gate Fields with an impressive score in the $100,000, Grade 2 All American Stakes.

The Bertrando gelding, who began his career by winning a $12,500 maiden claimer, had run second in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on the turf in his last start. He won the Silky Sullivan Stakes on the turf here last year.

Summer Hit trailed millionaire Tres Borrachos in the wagering until the final minutes before post Monday and wound up the 13-10 favorite. He broke alertly and took command immediately, with Control Seeker chasing from two lengths behind. Summer Hit set moderate fractions of 48.70 seconds for the opening half-mile and 1:12.87 for six furlongs while never seriously threatened.

As the field turned for home, Hudson Landing, the defending champion in the race, rallied three wide and put pressure on Summer Hit for the first time in the race. He seemed to have momentum, but Summer Hit responded nicely and won by three-quarters of a length. His time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.09.

Winning jockey Russell Baze was pleased with the effort.

“He’s a great horse to ride,” Baze said. “All you have to do is stay out of his way. I was quite happy with the way things turned out. Those were reasonable fractions for this colt. He carries his speed all the way to the wire. It’s hard to beat a horse when he can carry his speed that well.”

Juan Hernandez said he never really thought he had a chance aboard Hudson Landing.

“Nobody put pressure on him,” Hernandez said of Summer Hit. “I moved my horse from the three-eighths [pole] because the horse in front was just galloping. He ran good. He tried. The trainer [Blaine Wright] was happy, and I’m happy.”

Administer, who dropped back to last at the half-mile pole, rallied for third, 4 1/2 lengths behind stablemate Hudson Landing and a nose in front of Siberian Laughter.

The victory was worth $60,000 for Summer Hit, who has earned $281,835, with seven victories in 11 starts while never finishing off the board for John Carver and Jerry Hollendorfer, who also trains him.

Tres Borrachos ran last as the 2-1 second choice, and jockey Joey Steiner said, “It felt like he didn’t really like the track. He didn’t want to run.”