High hopes for Summer Movie

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A sore ankle kept Summer Movie on the sidelines over the winter, and prevented him from proving what owner George Krikorian and trainer Art Sherman have always thought of the colt.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed," Sherman said. "I think I have a nice 3-year-old this year."

Summer Movie returns from a layoff of nearly five months in a first-level optional $80,000 claimer over a mile on turf at Hollywood Park on Friday evening. Sherman is hoping to use Friday's race, which is for 3-year-olds, as a prep for a stakes this spring.

"The horse has grown up," he said. "He's training excellent. I think he'll run on either turf or dirt."

Summer Movie was considered for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last fall, but did not gain a place in the field. He finished last of eight as a 21-1 outsider in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes here last November, emerging with a sore ankle.

"I just backed off on him and gave him some time," Sherman said. "I'm hoping that did the trick as far as soundness goes."

The optional claimer, which drew a field of eight, is the fifth race on an eight-race program that begins at 7:05 p.m. Pacific.

Two runners are entered for $80,000 claiming prices - Thomas Baines, who was seventh in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3, and Gilligan, who is making his 19th start and was third in a starter allowance at Santa Anita on April 14.

Hockley and Theatrical Pro will attract attention, following recent wins in maiden races on turf. Theatrical Pro's win on April 10 was his second start, and first over a mile on turf.

Completing the field are Coloursoftheglen, second to eventual Arkansas Derby winner Line of David in an allowance race at Santa Anita on March 11; Keen Bidder, a troubled sixth in his U.S. debut on March 18; and the outsider Siete Machos, who was sixth in a starter allowance over seven furlongs on March 20.

Keen Bidder was stuck in traffic in the stretch and was beaten 11 1/4 lengths.

"He just lost all chance," trainer Jamie Lloyd said. "He didn't really run."

Lloyd considers Keen Bidder to be a contender for stakes such as the $100,000 Will Rogers Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on turf here on June 20.

"First he has to prove it," he said.