Gretzky the Great notches BC Juvenile Turf berth with Summer Stakes win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - After some anxious post-race moments, the favored Gretzky the Great punched his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf by taking Sunday’s Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine.

Ready to Repeat went straight to the front and set moderate fractions in the one-mile turf event, as Gretzky the Great took up the chase in second.

After cruising by Ready to Repeat near the eighth pole, Gretzky the Great drifted to the rail just in front of that rival before going on to prevail by 3 1/2 lengths. Ready to Repeat held second, and his rider claimed foul on the winner, but after a stewards’ inquiry, there was no change in the order of finish.
Gretzky the Great ($6.80) competed the distance in 1:34.53 on the firm ground.

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Kazushi Kimura rode Gretzky the Great for trainer Mark Casse, who also sent out third-place finisher Dolder Grand, a maiden who went four wide on the turn.

“He’s such an amazing horse,” Kimura said. “When I came to the straight, he had tremendous explosion. He was a little bit lugging in, but he’s still a baby, you know. If I want to do something (with him), I can do anything. He’s such a nice horse.”

Gretzky the Great, an Ontario-bred by hot freshman sire Nyquist, banked $180,000 of the $280,500 purse for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber.

American Monarch finished fourth, and was followed by Heat of the Night, Secret Potion, and Download.