Summerland the filly to beat in Emerald Downs Handicap

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – It is hard to go past Summerland in the $50,000 Emerald Downs Handicap on Saturday at Hastings. After all, the speedy 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly has yet to lose in Canada, with her only loss coming in the Grade 2 Sorrento at Del Mar last year. She will be a short price in the 6 1/2-furlong dash that drew just four horses and goes as the second race on a seven-race program that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Summerland was confidently ridden by Enrique Gonzalez when she won the $50,000 Ross McLeod in her first start this year on May 4, and she has worked well in the interim, particularly her half-mile move on May 19.

Trainer Phil Hall is expecting more of the same Saturday.

“She’s doing great,” Hall said. “I was at the Preakness, so I didn’t see her first work back, but I heard it was a good one.”

It was. In fact, Summerland was a lot more eager than usual. She usually doesn’t put a lot of effort into her works, but with Gonzalez aboard she wanted to roll, and he did everything he could to settle her early. She relaxed into the work and after a half-mile in 48 seconds she galloped out nicely, getting five furlongs in 1:00.80.

She drew the outside post and will be tough to beat if she runs her usual race.

Summerland’s toughest competition is likely to come from Dancin Shoes, who enters this spot off a fourth-place finish in the McLeod. Trainer Barbara Heads said the filly’s performance in the McLeod did not come as a total surprise, as she had not trained very well leading into the race. The two-time stakes winner has been on her toes since, though, and she did give Summerland all she could handle in the Fantasy last year.

“We had a mild hiccup with her blood, so we were a bit behind going into the McLeod,” Heads said. “We wanted to get a race into her because you’re chasing that good filly as it is, and we didn’t want to get too far behind her.”

Warrior’s Promise, a maiden after four starts, ran a big race to finish second in the McLeod, and two-time stakes winner Notice, third in the McLeod, complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Summerland, by He’s Tops
Last 3 Beyers: 76-55-69

◗ The speed of the speed has never been behind a horse in her six starts in Canada, and Hall thinks she can be rated if Notice beats her to the punch coming of the gate.

Dancin Shoes, by Cross Traffic
Last 3 Beyers: 55-67-57

◗ Dancin Shoes may have been trying to tell us something when she worked a fast four furlongs in 46.60 over a track labeled good May 26.

“She worked awesome, and it was by far the best work she had all spring,” Heads said.