Good Samaritan, invading from New York for trainer Bill Mott, trailed early but swept to the front in midstretch en route to a going-away victory here in Sunday’s Grade 2, $204,600 Summer Stakes.
In winning the Summer, Good Samaritan earned a fees-paid berth in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, which will be run over one mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
Conquest Farenheit, the even-money favorite as one of two Mark Casse-trained runners along with Conquest Sure Shot, was away alertly but settled into fourth place under Patrick Husbands as Channel Maker, The Craic, and Harlan’s Harmony banged heads through an opening quarter of :23.21. Good Samaritan, under Joel Rosario, was an unhurried last in the field of seven, more than six lengths behind the leaders.
Channel Maker was wrestled out of the speed duel heading into the far turn, leaving Harlan’s Harmony and The Craic to duke it out through a half in :46 while Conquest Farenheit edged into third. Turning for home, Channel Maker was crying out for room but Conquest Farenheit had moved into the lead with Good Samaritan continuing a relentless move on the outside. While Channel Maker eventually found a seam, Good Samaritan had hit the front and had little trouble drawing off to a 1 1/2 length score.
Conquest Farenheit held second, 1 1/2 lengths before Channel Maker, who held on to finish a head ahead of closing fourth-place finisher Tiz A Slam. Good Samaritan stopped the clock in 1:34.38. Harlan’s Harmony weakened to finish fifth while Conquest Sure Shot failed to fire while ending sixth sixth and The Craic, the lone filly in the Summer, trailed.
“He’s very professional,” said Rosario, who also was aboard for Good Samaritan’s first-out victory over 1 1/16 miles of grass at Saratoga. “When he starts running he’s very focused—when I rode him last time he was the same way. He’s shown that he had a lot of talent. He may have a good future.”
Good Samaritan picked up $120,000 while remaining undefeated in two starts for his breeder and co-owner Winstar Farms, who own the colt in partnership with China Horse Club Ltd.
Good Samaritan returned $8.00 $3.30 and $2.80 across the board while fronting a 7-6 exactor of $17.60 with Conquest Farenheit ($2.60, $2.40). The $1 7-6-2 triactor of $41.90 was completed by 14-1 Channel Maker ($5.00) with Tiz A Slam rounding out a $1 7-6-2-5 superfecta of $147.60.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
