Summer Assault scores professional win in Mystic Lake Derby

Summer Assault had talent from the start, sharply winning his career debut in January with a fast-paced sprint performance, but now he is learning to race, not merely run. Summer Assault put his increasing professionalism to good use winning the $100,000 Mystic Lake Derby on Wednesday night at Canterbury Park.

Under Jareth Loveberry, Summer Assault rated behind horses, cut the corner past the quarter pole and into the homestretch, and came up the rail to win the Mystic Lake Derby by a widening length over odds-on favorite Angelus Warrior.

“He was a little hesitant when we [turned] for home,” Loveberry told Canterbury publicity. “But he took off and finished strong.”

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Summer Assault, third in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March, had led throughout a last-start Tampa turf-route allowance score. In his debut win, he rallied from fourth but with a clean trip on the outside. Wednesday’s trip required more mental dexterity and determination, and Summer Assault was ready to provide both.

Michele Boyce trains Summer Assault ($6.40) for a partnership, and Summer Assault, by Summer Front out of Quality Included, by Include, now is a three-time winner from six starts. Winning time for one mile on a very firm and fast course was 1:34.15. Angelus Warrior edged Creative Plan for second.

Loveberry won a second Wednesday night stakes race, picking up the mount on Wellabled ($3.20) in the $50,000 Honor the Hero. Florent Geroux had a call on Wellabled but contracted Covid-19 and is out of action. Wellabled was one of two course-record setters on a ridiculously glib Canterbury turf, going five furlongs in 54.77 seconds while leading throughout. He lasted by a half-length over Chief Cicatriz, who performed well in his turf debut. Larry Rivelli trains Wellabled, a son of Shackleford and Expressive Diva, by In Excess, for Carolyn Wilson.

Geroux lost out on another stakes winner as Ask Bailey easily won the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks, with Francisco Arrieta picking up the mount for trainer Mike Maker and owners WSS Racing and Hooties Racing. Ask Bailey ($4.60) hadn’t started since November but was more than ready for this task, coming from last of seven to roll past the leaders at the furlong grounds, going on to a 4 1/4-length victory. Ask Bailey, by Run Away and Hide out of Puype’s Dream, by Kris S., ran one mile in 1:34.48.

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In the $75,000 Mystic Lake Mile, Tut’s Revenge won a three-horse photo over runner-up Giant Payday and beaten favorite Temple while lowering the course standard for one mile to 1:33.15. Ridden by Roimes Chirinos for trainer Clinton Stuart and the Claim to Fame Stable, Tut’s Revenge ($12.80) was making just his second turf start and first grass race around two turns in the Mystic Lake Mile. He pressed the pace of Primo’s Touch, took the lead midway through the race, and just held clear an inside run from Giant Payday as Temple flattened late trying to close on the outside.

Jockey Leandro Goncalves backed up the pace and nursed Streak of Luck ($14.80) to a three-quarters length win in the $75,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes. Streak of Luck went an opening half-mile in 48.69, a very slow tempo given course conditions, then sprinted her final half-mile in 46.16 seconds for a final time of 1:34.89. Winning Envelope, the 2-1 favorite, did all she could but was too far back, trying to rally from seventh, and could only finish second, a head better than Aife.

Streak of Luck, a 5-year-old mare by Old Fashioned out of Valeria, by Elusive Quality, had raced in California throughout her career before being shipped into the barn of Kentucky-based trained Kelly Ackerman in June. Ackerman trains her for Carrie Brodgen, James Keogh, and the Roncelli Family Trust.