Kentucky Derby: Summer Is Tomorrow holding up under the pressure

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The chaos of Kentucky Derby week can be a major gauntlet for young, inexperienced horses - even those who have raced in this country. Summer Is Tomorrow has extra hurdles. Not only has he traversed the globe to get here, but his base is the private Zabeel Stables in the U.A.E., a much more serene setting than the typical American backstretch.

Trainer Bhupat Seemar expresses optimistim that his colt, who has been stabled at Churchill Downs since April 23, can adapt to the challenges.

“The first day, of course, he was looking at everything - so many people around, a new place, and so many horses on the track,” Seemar said. “But of any kind of horse you want, it’s this horse’s mind. He soaks it all in and adapts so well. He’s been brilliant.”

Summer Is Tomorrow turned in his final breeze on Monday, walked the shed row on Tuesday, and returned to the track on Wednesday. By then, the crowds of onlookers on the backstretch had increased significantly from the colt’s last look. Appearing keen to go, he veered to his left when leaving his pony, egged on by the sight of Crown Pride breezing by inside him. Once straightened, he proceeded to gallop with his head cocked to the outside.

“Nobody knows ’til you get there,” Seemar said. “All you can do is do plenty of schooling and get him used to it. Derby is Derby.”

In addition to his gallop, Summer Is Tomorrow visited the 20-horse Derby starting gate in the mile chute. He was scheduled to school in the paddock later Wednesday afternoon.

Although Seemar is a first-time Derby trainer with a horse adjusting to new circumstances, neither is completely flying blind. Seemar worked for trainer Bob Baffert for five years, during a period in the early 2000s when the barn’s stars included dual classic winners Point Given and War Emblem, giving him valuable experience with the American Triple Crown.

Summer Is Tomorrow did run on a major program with a festival atmosphere last out, finishing second in the Group 2 UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night.

Still, as Seemar noted, the Derby is the Derby.