Summer Sunday cuts back on turf for Zadracarta Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The career of 2019 Canadian champion female sprinter Summer Sunday is winding down. But on Friday the 6-year-old Silent Name mare will run in the $100,000 Zadracarta Stakes for Ontario-bred females as she shortens up to five furlongs on the inner turf.

Summer Sunday has raced twice at the pandemic-shortened Woodbine meet, both at six furlongs. She faded to sixth after battling for the lead along the rail with two others in the Grade 3 Whimsical on June 19. A month later in the restricted Ballade Stakes, she was overhauled in the final strides by longshot Golden Vision after putting away the other speed.

“She’s probably going to make a couple more starts, and then she’s going to be retired,” trainer Stuart Simon said. “We’re keeping her in the company that she’s best suited for and the weather that she’s best suited for.”

Simon has no qualms with running Summer Sunday over an abbreviated distance on the grass.

“She can turf, she can sprint, she can go long,” Simon said.

Rafael Hernandez will ride Summer Sunday again for owners Anne and William Scott.

Hell N Wild is dropping out of the Grade 3 Seaway, in which she faded to fifth after a stalking trip, finishing nearly 10 lengths back of the brilliant Boardroom.

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In her last grass outing going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main turf July 17, Hell N Wild fought for the lead before giving way grudgingly to the favored Fiduciary.

Trainer Lorne Richards has given the call to Patrick Husbands, who can make the most of Hell N Wild’s effective tactical speed after breaking from post 6 in the nine-horse field.

Five-furlong inner-turf expert Spanish Ballerina led until deep stretch in an Aug. 5 second-level allowance won by Betwixting, who came right back to win the $75,000 Satin N Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. Spanish Ballerina was previously third in the six-furlong Ballade, after ending up second in her season opener.

Emma-Jayne Wilson has the mount on Spanish Ballerina, a 5-year-old trained by Frank Huarte.

Amalfi Sky, a well-bred 3-year-old trained by Kevin Attard, is meeting older opposition for the first time after going 2 for 2 under Antonio Gallardo. She graduated two back in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special on the Tapeta and then doubled up in a five-furlong allowance on the inner course after a lovely inside stalking trip.

Sav is making her first start for trainer Norman McKnight off a $62,500 claim and a flat fifth-place finish in Betwixting’s victory on Aug. 5. Leading jockey Kazushi Kimura rides her for McKnight, who has a 14-percent strike rate right off the claim since the beginning of 2020.

She’s a Dream was competitive in each of her last three starts against first-level allowance rivals. She’s shortening up from 7 1/2 furlongs, with blinkers on.