Summer Hit turns back Longview Drive in All American

ALBANY, Calif. - Tapeta-loving Summer Hit withstood a strong challenge by stablemate Longview Drive to win his second straight Grade 3 All American at Golden Gate Fields on Monday.

Summer Hit improved his record over Golden Gate's artificial surface to seven wins and a second in eight starts as he finished a head in front of Longview Drive, the 24-1 second-longest shot on the board, in the one-mile race. Hudson Landing, second in last year's race after winning in 2012, was third. The winning time was 1:38.01, and Sumer Hit paid $3.20 to win.

Summer Hit lost a little traction leaving the gate and had to work to get the lead. Pepper Crown, who upset Summer Hit in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile last month on the turf, provided stern competition throughout the early and middle stages of the race.

"They stretched him pretty good the whole way, but this horse is just tough to beat on this track," said winning jockey Russell Baze.

Summer Hit made a quick burst to shake free of tiring Pepper Crown in the lane, but Longview Drive then took him on. Baze gave Summer Hit a couple whacks with his whip and the 5-year-old Bertrando gelding kept going.

"When Longview Drive got up to his throatlatch, he dug in tough," said Baze. "He was not going to let that other horse go by him. Longview Drive would have gone by most horses as hard as he was running."

Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains the top two finishers, said that Summer Hit "ran a game race."

He was just as pleased by Longview Drive's performance.

"I was really proud of Longview Drive," he said. "I've been waiting for him to run a big race for a while."

Hollendorfer owns Summer Hit with John Carver. Steve Beneto owns Longview Drive.

Summer Hit earned $60,000 to lift his career earnings to $532,219 with 11 victories in 20 starts.