Gulfstream Park: Summer Front fires late to win Fort Lauderdale

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Summer Front surged past pacesetter Tetradrachm at midstretch en route to a three-quarter-length victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Fort Lauderdale on the turf at Gulfstream Park. Tetradrachm held for second and Nikki’s Sandcastle finished third.

Summer Front, a multiple Grade 3 winner, became a Grade 2 winner for the first time with his victory in the 1 1/16-mile Fort Lauderdale. Benefitting from a patient ride by jockey Joe Bravo, Summer Front raced within striking distance of Tetradrachm while saving ground, had to await racing room around the second turn, slipped inside rivals while commencing his bid into the stretch, and overtook the leader with a sudden burst of speed near the sixteenth pole.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

Tetradrachm, second in his 2013 finale in Calder’s Grade 3 Tropical Turf Handicap, set a leisurely pace, getting clear on the lead through splits of 25.19 and 49.00 over the firm course. The Bill Mott-trained Tetradrachm settled into the stretch with a seemingly comfortable advantage but proved no match for the winner.

Summer Front gave Bravo his third stakes win over the last two weekends. He also captured the Grade 3 Marshua’s River with Naples Bay and Spectacular Bid aboard Just Call Kenny here last Saturday.

Summer Front, who is trained by Christophe Clement for the Waterford Stable, completed the distance in 1:42.24 and paid $4.40.

“They always say he gets in trouble, he gets in trouble, but he’s not in trouble, you have to ride him that way, covered up, wait and make one run,” said Clement. “He’s got a great turn of foot as you can see because Billy Mott’s horse ran a great race. He really opened up at the quarter pole and it took a really good horse to get him.”

Clement said his next option for Summer Front would likely be the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap here on Feb. 9 with the Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita also an option.

“I like running him here because he trains so well at Payson Park and it’s easy for me to come here, so as long as they don’t kill me with the weight, we’ll probably keep him here,” said Clement.