Indian Summer comes down to three runners

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The field as drawn for the $250,000 Indian Summer Stakes Sunday on the Keeneland turf, a key springboard into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, will have some changes, with three stakes winners emerging as the primary candidates in what should still be a full gate.

Chasing Liberty, coming off a win by disqualification in the Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs, was cross-entered in the Grade 3 Futurity on Friday at Aqueduct, but was scratched to run on Sunday at Keeneland instead.

There will be at least one scratch from the overflow field, as Colleen Stakes winner Dreamaway will run in Saturday’s Speakeasy Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita for Wesley Ward, who will still represented in this field by maiden winners Floodlites and Pharoah’s Dynasty.

The scratch of Dreamaway will let in the lone also-eligible, the maiden Fiddling Felix, who will be trying turf for the first time.

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Chasing Liberty, trained by Rob Atras; Governor Sam, trained by George Weaver; and Out On Bail, trained by Mike Maker, should emerge as the favorites in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race, their stakes experience making them standouts in a field in which the others only own maiden wins.

Governor Sam, favored on the morning line, won the Tyro Stakes by a game neck over Jet Sweep Joe, who he faces again here. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 78 – tied with Chasing Liberty for the best number among the expected starters.

Governor Sam then took the Rosie’s Stakes at Colonial Downs by a slightly diminishing two lengths. Weaver has said that the colt needs to continue proving himself, and he will get a litmus test here, particularly in a field with plenty of other speed to keep him company.

Chasing Liberty was never far off the lead when winning on debut at 5 1/2 furlongs. However, he needed every bit of the 6 1/2 furlongs of the Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs to reach contention.

He found himself well back after checking on the turn, came nine wide into the stretch, then checked again when Under Who’s Radar bothered him in the lane, resulting in the disqualification of that foe after crossing the wire three-quarters of a length in front.

“I thought we ran a winning race, and the stewards’ decision was up to them,” Atras said. “Our horse just showed up regardless of if we were first or second. . . . He was still a little bit green, but he showed his ability. He has a lot of talent. I knew it was going to be tough and it was a big ask coming off a maiden win.”

Under Who’s Radar runs in the Futurity on Friday, giving some insight into the form of the Kentucky Downs race, from which Pharoah’s Dynasty, a tiring eighth, also emerges.

Out On Bail is one of the more experienced members of the field with five starts, never missing the board. After winning his maiden in his turf debut, he won the Skidmore at Saratoga by a head, showing gameness over the consistent Jet Sweep Joe as the two exchanged contact late. He then was making up ground when second to Governor Sam in the Rosie’s.

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