Surface switch leads Second Summer to Californian

ARCADIA, Calif. – Second Summer had a quiet 3-year-old season in 2015, winning once in six starts while racing primarily on turf. This year, a move to dirt races has revitalized Second Summer’s career and led to a start in Sunday’s $200,000 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita.

Second Summer will start in the Grade 2 Californian at 1 1/8 miles on the strength of consecutive wins in optional claimers here in March and at Los Alamitos last month. Those wins, combined with a strong recent workout, have left trainer Peter Eurton eager to test Second Summer in the Californian, which lacks a nationally prominent older horse.

“He’s changed so much from turf to dirt,” Eurton said. “He has a much better turn of foot on dirt than grass.”

Second Summer races for Sharon Alesia, Ciaglia Racing, Marc Ferrell, and Slam Dunk Racing and has won 3 of 12 starts for $150,610. Eurton said his clients are willing to gamble on a start in the Californian Stakes.

“The group is looking forward to it,” he said. “They love taking shots.”

The Californian drew a field of seven, including Hard Aces, who was second in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 12, and Point Piper, who was fifth in the Big Cap and third in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in Arkansas on April 16.

Second Summer will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, who was aboard for the win at Los Alamitos on April 17. Eurton was encouraged by a five-furlong workout by Second Summer in 59.20 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday.

“It was an amazing effort,” Eurton said. “He did it like he was going in 1:04. He came out of it well.”