Leader of the Band Hits Right Notes in Summer Colony

SMD's Leader of the Band  made her first New York outing a winning one when rallying to take the restricted $135,000 Summer Colony Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile test for older fillies and mares Aug. 19 at Saratoga Race Course. 

Trained by John Servis, the talented Leader of the Band notched her sixth lifetime win, improving from a last out runner-up effort in the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) July 23 at Monmouth Park where she closed from 2 1/2 lengths off the pace to be defeated three lengths by grade 1 winner Search Results . A 4-year-old daughter of Bandbox , Leader of the Band adds to two previous stakes scores in the Lady's Secret in June at Monmouth and the Monmouth Oaks (G3) last year at the Oceanport oval. 

Leader of the Band was backed in through the front of stall 4 riderless before Hall of Famer John Velazquez climbed aboard and guided the bay filly to a good start, settling in behind Envoutante  and First to Act  as they battled for the lead into the first turn. Envoutante came away with a slight advantage as the pair marked an opening quarter-mile in :23.70 over the fast track as Leader of the Band tracked in third. 

First to Act, under patient handling by Irad Ortiz Jr., put her neck in front through a half-mile in :47.81 and three-quarters in 1:11.87 as Bonny South  swung wide from the back of the field. Leader of the Band began to pick things up when asked by Velazquez in the final turn, charging down the center of the racetrack to overtake a tiring Envoutante for second. 

Leader of the Band stuck her head in front at the stretch call, and by the eighth pole, First to Act was all-out under a strong ride from Ortiz. To her outside, Leader of the Band continued to find more with every stride and came home three-quarter lengths the best in a final time of 1:49.65. 

Envoutante held onto show honors over the late-running Bonny South with Army Wife , Misty Veil , and Exotic West  completing the order of finish. 

Servis said Leader of the Band has grown mentally from where she was last year, which prompted owner Will Schwartz to consider a trip to Saratoga.

"She's matured so much from last year. Last year, she was a handful with everything," said Servis. "Mentally, she's matured so much, and she's gotten bigger and stronger physically. She's showing that in her races. She seems to be getting better in her races."

Leader of the Band emerged from her stall with a wedge between her and the back, something Servis said helps the often slow-starting filly. 

Servis and Velazquez felt a good break was instrumental in her success. 

Leader of the Band has been a model of consistency in her three seasons of racing, boasting a 13-for-15 in-the-money record with earnings totaling $552,940. She returned $15.60 for a $2 win wager and was awarded $74,250 for the winning effort.

Bred in Pennsylvania by her owner, Leader of the Band is one of four black-type runners of the stakes-placed Sir Cat  mare Catsuit  and her sole stakes winner. Eight of her 10 foals are winners from nine starters. 

Schwartz, whose first start under the SMD name came in 2000, claimed Catsuit for $32,000 in 2004 and raced her once before retiring her. 

"This has been a dream to not only win a race at Saratoga, but to win a stakes race is pretty special," Schwartz said. 

Video: Summer Colony S. (BT)