Summer's Indy skips Azeri, opts for allowance

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Summer’s Indy had been entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri at Oaklawn, but she will run instead in Sunday’s sixth race, trainer Karl Broberg said Friday.

Summer’s Indy will start as a top contender in the optional $50,000 claiming route for fillies and mares that carries second-level allowance conditions. The 1 1/16-mile race also drew Mylady Curlin, who could go favored off a runner-up finish to Grade 2 winner Chocolate Martini at the same condition Feb. 24.

Summer’s Indy was third in that race, beaten a length by Chocolate Martini, and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 82. She will break from post 5 on Sunday under David Cabrera.

“She just continues to improve,” Broberg said. “She’s taken to the two turns, so I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Summer’s Indy is a 4-year-old by Take Charge Indy who races for Makbrook Capital and Jerome Russell and Kristina Russell. She is from the female family from Grade 1 winner Summer Colony.

Mylady Curlin was stretching back out to two turns when second to Chocolate Martini, and was beaten three-quarters of a length. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for trainer Brad Cox.

Oaklawn on Sunday also is putting on two optional $50,000 claiming sprints. Both carry second-level allowance conditions. The seventh race is for 4-year-olds and up and is led by Mojo Man and The Red Dude. The eighth race is for fillies and mares over 5 1/2 furlongs, and the chief contenders are Always Enough and Fairwayngreen.

◗ Jockey David Cohen has been taken off his mounts Sunday and Thursday for a riding infraction, according to Oaklawn stewards.