The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for Summer Sunday to pick up her first stakes victory. A beautiful summer Sunday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack was the scene of her $125,000 Nandi Stakes conquest in which she defeated a field of two-year-old Ontario-sired fillies.
Jockey Jesse Campbell rode the undefeated Silent Name-Dancing Allstar filly to victory for trainer Simon Stuart and owners Anne and William Scott.
Summer Sunday left from post six and fought with Shady Well Stakes starter Miss Danielle (Emma-Jayne Wilson) for the lead through fractions of :22.36 and :45.50 before taking charge down the stretch to score in 1:04.49 over five and a half furlongs on the Tapeta. The Mark Casse-trained Rosemere (Patrick Husbands) made a run for Summer Sunday late and finished three-quarters of a length behind the winner in her career debut while Miss Danielle held on for third in a photo finish with Belmont shipper She’s the Berries (David Moran).
“She won handily her first time out [on July 15]. I worked her once before she ran and I loved her,” said Campbell, who picked off a couple of other fillies in the Nandi to ride Summer Sunday. “She’s got a great head on her and talent to boot so that can go a long ways. It’s always nice to win stakes, but when you get to win for your good friends – Stuart’s a good friend of mine – it’s extra special.”
Sent postward as the 2-1 favourite following her winning career debut last month, Summer Sunday paid $6, $3.60 and $2.70 across the board.
“I think she’s continuing to advance forward,” said Simon. “Every week she seems like a little bit better filly. She really is just a dream horse to train and she’s got such a good head on her and she does what you ask of her so we haven’t been very hard on her. We were trying to look at the big picture of the full career so I think she’s got a lot of good things in front of her still.”
Simon indicated that the filly’s next assignment is expected to be the Muskoka Stakes on August 30.
Summer Sunday combined with Rosemere ($8.60, $5.60) for a 6-2 exactor worth $43.80. A 6-2-3 triactor (Miss Danielle, $5.70 to show) paid $132.85 and a $1 superfecta of 6-2-3-4 (She’s the Berries) returned $509.95. Dirty Girl, Midnight Strider and My Silent Present completed the finish order.
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