Summer Sunday risks record in Seaway

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Summer Sunday puts her unbeaten local record on the line on Sunday in the Grade 3 Seaway, a seven-furlong stakes that will determine if she goes on to contest the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters.

Summer Sunday used her tactical speed to win all seven of her starts at Woodbine, the first six of which were on the synthetic Tapeta surface. Five of those Tapeta races were stakes, including the Grade 3 Hendrie.

Summer Sunday made her turf debut a winning one most recently in the Grade 2 Royal North. The favored third-place finisher from New York, Oleksandra, won her next start in the $100,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga.

“She’s been doing really good,” said Stu Simon, who trains Summer Sunday for William and Anne Scott. “She seems to keep on thriving as the year goes on. She always does whatever you ask her to do. She took that [last] race well, and has trained really well since. I’m expecting another good effort.”

Simon said the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters, a 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint, is the next goal for Summer Sunday.

Rafael Hernandez will ride Summer Sunday, the 124-pound highweight, on Sunday.

Seven fillies and mares were entered in the $125,000 Seaway, which goes as the eighth of 10 races.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Summer Sunday, by Silent Name
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-92

◗ Simon said he has no qualms with going from six to seven furlongs in the Seaway.

“In all of her races and works, she gallops out really strong,” Simon said. “The biggest thing with her is she’s gotten so tactical that she doesn’t need to be on the lead. She laid third when she won the Hendrie. She can do whatever you want.”

Katie Baby, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 86-89-81

◗ After romping in her season opener in a seven-furlong allowance, she rallied wide to finish just 1 1/2 lengths behind Summer Sunday in the Hendrie. She’s turning back off a narrow loss to Pamina in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron, from which third-place finisher Giovanna Blues exited to take the Flaming Page Stakes.

◗ Eurico Da Silva will ride her again for trainer Catherine Day Phillips. Da Silva said the seven furlongs is a good distance for Katie Baby.

“She has me scratching my head all the time,” he said. “She hasn’t won a stakes yet. She’s so talented.”

Devine Mischief, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 59-82-77

◗ The multiple stakes winner has been freshened since a 14-length loss in the June 9 Hendrie, and has been working right along.