Speaktomeofsummer Makes the Grade in Lake Placid
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Speaktomeofsummer takes the Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Waterford Stable's Speaktomeofsummer made her connections and her sire proud July 19, scoring her first graded stakes win in the $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course.
A 3-year-old daughter of Summer Front , Speaktomeofsummer broke slowly from the rail under Joel Rosario in the 1 1/8-mile inner turf race and was second from last early on. But the pair worked their way up the field and settled in fifth as the first quarter-mile went in :24.01.
Blame Debbie and jockey Jose Ortiz took command from the break and set the pace from their own spot on the rail. Blame Debbie appeared contentious with Ortiz through a good portion of the ride, and the jockey had to prompt the filly to run a straight course along the backside.
With a clear one-length lead along the backstretch, Blame Debbie was pressed by Lashara in the two path but maintained control through the first six furlongs in 1:13.66. Speaktomeofsummer was checked briefly to avoid a swerving Stunning Sky, was backed off, but righted herself and was back up in fifth by a head entering the final turn.
Blame Debbie drifted out wide at the top of the lane and began to lose momentum, allowing Stunning Sky an opportunity to cut through the frontrunners through an open spot on the rail. Speaktomeofsummer moved out into the unoccupied two path when Stunning Sky swung in and was set down for a drive to challenge the new leader. The filly sparred with Stunning Sky down the stretch but dug in and managed to get up in the final moments to win by a head.
"I was really happy with the trip," Rosario said. "I thought I would be a little closer, like (trainer) Christophe (Clement) told me, but everybody had the same idea to be up there. It looked like the first part was fast, but they all got into their position, so I thought I'd let her be happy there and hopefully have a good run at the end.
"She was moving beautifully, but when I passed the leader, she waited a little bit and the other horse came back again. But she came on again and I was able to hold them off."
Joel Rosario gives a thumbs up after riding Speaktomeofsummer to victory in the Lake Placid at Saratoga
The final time was 1:49.44 on turf rated firm. Stunning Sky held for second, followed by Queens Embrace in third.
Speaktomeofsummer's only other start of the year came June 20 when she finished fourth in the Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park. She broke her maiden on her second start at 2 at Monmouth Park and ended her freshman season with a win in the listed Chelsey Flower Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"She had a great trip," Clement said. "Thank you, Joel. He's riding great at the moment. The filly has trained well since the last race at Belmont. She's by Summer Front, which is a big deal for us as we trained him, plus he's a young sire at the moment.
"I put the blinkers on (last time) because I thought she was a little lazy in her work in the morning before her last race. That's what happens when trainers start to think too much. The main thing is I'm really delighted. She belongs to Waterford Stable of Thomas Moore, who is a longtime owner for many years. We've had In Summation, Summer Front, and many other good horses for him. We bought her from Airdrie Stud. It's a very good family, and Airdrie stands Summer Front. It's good all around."
Speaktomeofsummer was bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Silver Reunion, who has also produced stakes winner Proud Reunion and grade 3-placed winner More Fun Again.
Speaktomeofsummer was purchased by Steve Young, agent, from her breeder for $135,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. She has three wins from five starts and $175,500 in earnings.
Overall, opening weekend at Saratoga realized all-sources handle of $80,325,660 from July 17-19, a 9.4% increase over last year's opening weekend, which generated $73,441,101 from all sources.
Under New York State guidelines, Saratoga Race Course is currently operating without spectators in attendance.
Closing weekend at Belmont Park for the 2020 spring/summer meet generated all-sources handle of $41,452,573 from July 9-12.