Summer Sunday looks to pad bankroll in Eternal Search Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The career of 2019 Canadian champion female sprinter Summer Sunday is winding down, and she will be retired to Ireland at meet’s end. She drops back into restricted stakes company Friday at Woodbine in the $100,000 Eternal Search, a 7 1/2-furlong Ontario-sired event scheduled for the inner turf.

Summer Sunday has a win and two seconds from four starts at this pandemic-shortened meet. After getting fried in a speed duel in the Grade 3 Whimsical in June, she wound up second to longshot Golden Vision in the Ballade Stakes on July 17.

Summer Sunday returned from a seven-week break to take the five-furlong Zadracarta Stakes for Ontario-breds after a three-wide stalking trip on the inner turf on Sept. 10. She’s coming off a second to favored Amalfi Coast in the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion.

“All being well, her last start will be in the La Prevoyante at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, and then she’s done,” trainer Stuart Simon said. “She’s flying to Ireland on Dec. 17 and is going to be bred to a Coolmore stallion, raise a foal or two there, and see what happens. She’ll have a forever safe home there. She’s 6 years old, and it’s time for her to move on and enjoy her life there.”

Summer Sunday has banked $916,400. A sweep of the Eternal Search and the $100,000 La Prevoyante Stakes here Dec. 4 would put her over $1 million in Canadian earnings.

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Summer Sunday breezed five-eighths in 1:00.60 on Oct. 21. Simon believes that another strong showing is forthcoming from the daughter of Silent Name.

“It’s not like her form has deteriorated or anything,” Simon said.

Rafael Hernandez, who rode Summer Sunday in seven of her 10 wins, has the mount for owners Anne and William Scott.

A field of seven was drawn for the Eternal Search, including Golden Vision, She’s a Dream, Hello Friends, and November Fog.

Golden Vision won her season opener in a first-level allowance sprint on the main turf before doubling up in the Ballade, a six-furlong Ontario-sired race. She was a well-beaten fourth in the Grade 3 Seaway in August before checking in third in the six-furlong Ontario Fashion.

She’s a Dream, who evolved into a turf specialist last year, was competitive in each of her first three outings at this meet, all at the first allowance category. She closed for third most recently in the Zadracarta, finishing just 1 1/4 lengths behind Summer Sunday, and has worked six times leading up to this engagement.

Hello Friends was razor sharp when winning her last race in a seven-furlong allowance on the Tapeta.

November Fog is returning to action on short rest off a victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance on the main track.