Summer Sunday dominates in Hendrie Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Summer Sunday established herself as Woodbine’s top female sprinter with a dominating victory in Sunday’s Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes.

Rafael Hernandez had Summer Sunday attending the pace between horses on the backstretch in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. She assumed command from pacesetter Sly Beauty exiting the turn, and then opened up a clear lead en route to a 1 1/2-length triumph, in a time of 1:16.62.

A wide-closing Katie Baby wound up second, and the well-bred Alnilah earned some valuable black type by finishing third in the eight-horse field.

Summer Sunday, who was coming off a win in the restricted Ballade Stakes, is now unbeaten in six starts on Woodbine’s Tapeta surface.

“She’s just a dream horse,” said trainer Stu Simon. “She is better than her form does say on dirt. I really think she’d run on the grass, too. She’s just that type of horse. On the lead, off the lead. She’d probably run further.”

Summer Sunday returned $5 as the favorite, and earned $90,000 of the $143,000 purse for owners Anne and William Scott.