Summerland prevails in Fantasy Stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – It was closer than many people expected, but Summerland held off a stubborn Dancin Shoes to win the $75,000 Fantasy Stakes at Hastings on Saturday. She paid $2.20 for her three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies. The $2 exacta paid $2.60.

With Enrique Gonzalez aboard, Summerland broke alertly from post 2 in the four-horse field and set interior fractions of 24:00 and 48.21 seconds while under moderate pressure from Dancin Shoes.
Dancin Shoes loomed a threat on the stretch turn but couldn’t get past the winner. It was basically a match race, with Friday finishing 11 1/2 lengths behind Dancin Shoes.

The final time was 1:45.04.

With the win, the Phil Hall-trained daughter of He’s Tops wrapped up local divisional honors. Summerland won all four of her races at Hastings, with her only loss coming in the Grade 2 Sorrento at Del Mar. Saturday’s race was the first time she went around three turns.

“I think she got a little confused going down the backstretch the second time,” said Hall. “She was being chased by a very nice horse, and she gutted it out down the lane.”

It was the first loss for Dancin Shoes, who was coming off a win in the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity.

Summerland was bred in Kentucky by George Gilbert and Tres Hombres. She is owned by Gilbert.