Summer Sunday back on preferred surface in Fury Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Summer Sunday was undefeated in three starts as a 2-year-old last season, all at Woodbine, and she will begin her local preparations for the Woodbine Oaks in Sunday’s $125,000 Fury Stakes for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs on Tapeta.

Summer Sunday’s run last season included victories in the Nandi and Muskoka stakes. She wintered in Florida with trainer Stuart Simon, where she trained primarily on the dirt. Simon said dirt isn’t Summer Sunday’s preferred surface, which was reflected in her ninth-place finish in the Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland on April 8.

“It was just one of those things where we wanted to get a race in before we got back home,” he said. “There was really no other options. She seemed to scramble on it and not be able to grab a hold of it.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Summer Sunday, by Silent Name
Last 3 Beyers: 43-74-67

◗ She’ll race with Lasix for the second time in the Fury after making all three of her 2-year-old starts without it. Jockey Rafael Hernandez – winner of eight of his 17 starts opening weekend – will be aboard Summer Sunday for the first time.

Avie’s Mineshaft, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 59-64-62

◗ She capped her juvenile campaign with a runner-up finish in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes around two turns here last October. She’s one of five winter-trained horses in the field. She ran a strong second to Dixie Moon when debuting at this distance last August.

Glamanation, by Point of Entry
Last 3 Beyers: 69-56-59

◗ After running second behind Dream It Is in the first two starts of her career, she won her maiden in the Shady Well Stakes. She wintered in Florida and comes into the Fury with two six-furlong works under her belt.

Luvutothemoonnback, by Malibu Moon

◗ Trained by Mark Casse, she’ll make her career debut, but has some winter foundation. She’s worked quickly on the Tapeta.