Just Might continues rebound with Scherer Memorial

Just Might began this, his 5-year-old season, with three wins, six seconds, and six thirds from 21 starts, and appeared to be a good horse more likely to settle for a close loss than a satisfying win. Well, that has changed.

When Just Might on Sunday at Fair Grounds won the $75,000 Richie Scherer Memorial Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths it marked his seventh victory, all in stakes races, from 11 starts during 2021. The gelding has been an iron horse this season, and you just might say he has gotten the knack of winning, regardless of racing surface: three of the wins this year came on dirt, the others, like the Scherer, on turf.

“I don’t think it matters,” regular rider Colby Hernandez said. “He runs anywhere.”

Just Might’s three misfires this season came on wet grass courses, which are not his thing, and in the Phoenix Stakes in October at Keeneland, where he grabbed a quarter in upper stretch. Trainer Michelle Lovell, who co-bred and co-owns Just Might with Griffon Farms, got Just Might right for the Thanksgiving Classic, which he won wire to wire on dirt, and Just Might did the same Saturday.

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Just Might, sharp out of the gate, broke on top before Field Day issued an early challenge, the pair going an opening quarter-mile over the firm course in 22.48 seconds. Just Might, going easily, left Field Day struggling to keep up at the three-furlong pole and Hernandez came into the homestretch sitting chilly. Waiting to move his hands until he passed the eighth pole, Hernandez got a good response from Just Might, who comfortably held clear an outside bid from long-layoff comebacker Manny Wah – who had beaten Just Might in the 2020 Scherer – and rail-rallying Pyron, who missed second by a narrow margin. Just Might clocked 1:04.12 for 5 1/2 furlongs and paid $4 as the solid favorite.

Just Might is by Justin Phillip out of Dynamite Babe, by Dynameaux. He began his 2021 racing season last January in good form and ended it the last week of December still going strong, a mighty campaign from a surprising source.

Saratoga in Saratoga best in Blushing K.D.

Summer in Saratoga’s wide, sustained rally carried her to a narrow victory in the $75,000 Blushing K.D. Stakes.

The 13-10 favorite raced last of six in the early and middle stages under Corey Lanerie before coming into contention past the three-furlong pole and into the homestretch. Summer in Saratoga passed Bellagamba at about the eighth pole, but had to withstand a late surge from that rival to get home by a neck, clocking 1:42.54 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm course.

Catch a Bid, Summer in Saratoga’s Joe Sharp-trained stablemate, contested a solid pace and held third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Bellagamba.

The Blushing K.D. was the fourth stakes win for Summer in Saratoga ($4.60), who was scratched from the Long Island Stakes last month at Aqueduct after acting up in the paddock. Five-year-old Summer in Saratoga is by Hard Spun out of Love Theway Youare, by Arch, and is owned by Narola and Anderson Farms Ontario. Sharp said last week that Summer in Saratoga would continue racing into her 6-year-old season as long as her form holds.