Summer Starlet storms down stretch to take Spinaway
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Asmussen loves showcasing fast 2-year-olds at Saratoga. Summer Starlet is the latest to shine at the Spa.
Four weeks after a dominant debut victory going 6 1/2 furlongs, Summer Starlet was dominant yet again, running by Harper’s Corner in midstretch and drawing clear to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Harper’s Corner, who had won the Grade 2 Schuylerville by 5 1/4 lengths here in July, finished second by 7 1/4 lengths over Angel of Kirk.
It was the fourth Spinaway victory for Asmussen and his 21st graded stakes victory here with a 2-year-old going back to Cashier’s Dream, who won the Spinaway in 2001. Summer Starlet’s win came exactly five years after Echo Zulu won the Spinaway. That filly went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, which will be the fall goal for Summer Starlet.
Of the four fastest Spinaways run since the race went to seven furlongs in 1994, Asmussen has trained three of those runners: Hot Dixie Chick (1:22.28), Echo Zulu (1:22.51), and Summer Starlet (1:22.76). The second-fastest Spinaway at seven furlongs was recorded by Vequist (1:22.29), who, like Echo Zulu, won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Running “1:22 and change with a 2-year-old filly at Saratoga,” Asmussen started to say. “I love the tradition of them loading into the gates and they say, ‘The 135th running of the Spinaway,’ I mean, come on.”
In her debut, Summer Starlet came from seventh in an eight-horse field. Asmussen expected a similar type of trip in the Spinaway. Breaking from post 2 under Ricardo Santana Jr., Summer Starlet was only 1 1/2 lengths behind Harper’s Corner, who ran an opening quarter-mile in 22.35 seconds and a half-mile in 44.96 with Angel of Kirk stalking under Manny Franco.
Summer Starlet raced inside of Life Changing, who began to fade around the far turn. Santana guided Summer Starlet three-wide at the head of the lane and had to tussle briefly with Harper’s Corner before leaving that one behind in the final furlong.
“She was away beautifully and in hand,” Asmussen said. “I expected her to be further back, but watching the race, Ricardo was very comfortable on her.”
Summer Starlet, a daughter of City of Light, is owned by BC Stables, Wattswood Stables, Bob Albritton, Jay Graham, and David Bagget. She returned $5.24 to win as the 8-5 favorite.
Asmussen believes time and distance will only benefit Summer Starlet moving forward. He will look to stretch her out around two turns in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 3.
“I think we expect her to go two turns next, and that race right there makes it look like she would be very handy in a two-turn race,” Asmussen said.
Despite the defeat, trainer Cal Lynch was happy with the effort Harper’s Corner put forth in the Spinaway.
“She ran great. I was delighted. She just ran into a better filly today,” Lynch said. “I think that second quarter when [Manny Franco on Angel of Kirk] went past us, that kind of got us and set it up for the filly. She ran great. We’re delighted. We’re Grade 1-placed. We can’t be mad.”
Angel of Kirk finished third, beaten 12 lengths. Stress Relief was fourth, followed by Bandmaster, Girvy Girl, and Life Changing, who was basically eased by Flavien Prat.
“He said she was traveling well and got to the turn and she just came off the bridle,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He said she felt good, didn’t make any noise.”