Summers debuts Lights Out Leni a little farther than anticipated

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Before Chad Summers and Al Gold run Napoleon Solo in Saturday’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, they’ll send out Lights Out Leni in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden for 3-year-old fillies, the only non-claiming race on Friday’s eight-race Aqueduct card.

Lights Out Leni is a daughter of Speightstown out of the Rockport Harbor mare Froyo Star. Lights Out Leni is a half-sister to debut winner Yorkshiremen.

“She’s named after Al’s granddaughter,” Summers said. “He has a lot of fun with his names but when he names one after family members you feel a little added responsibility.”

Summers said he had entered Lights Out Leni in a six-furlong race in Florida that failed to fill. He hopes the extra half-furlong won’t be an issue Friday.

:: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now.

“I felt like we had her ready for six, you hope she can see out the 6 1/2, but she’s got a really promising future,” Summers said.

Trainer Chad Brown has a pair entered in this spot, including Asset Light, a daughter of Into Mischief and a full sister to maiden turf winner Mirabella. Brown also has Directive, a daughter of Gun Runner out of the Grade 1-winning turf mare Antonoe who has produced two Grade 1-winning turf horses, Segesta and Salamis.

Of the ones to have run, Smart Sugar, with blinkers and Lasix for the first time last out, did dead heat for second going this distance.

◗ Four of six horses entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Carter Stakes were cross-entered in other races. Of that quartet, only Quint’s Brew is expected to scratch. He will run in the Frank Whiteley Stakes at Laurel, trainer Ned Allard said. Acoustic Ave, trained by Linda Rice, is entered in an allowance on Thursday.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.