Good Samaritan Kicks from Last to Win Summer

Good Samaritan completed a strong last-to-first rally for a clear victory in the $200,000 Summer Stakes (Can-IIT) for 2-year-olds Sept. 18 at Woodbine.

China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Good Samaritan was brought from the back of the field by Joel Rosario, who angled him five wide into the stretch where he ran down front-runner and odds-on favorite Conquest Farenheit near the eighth pole and went on to score from that rival by 1 1/2 lengths. Channel Marker, who vied for the early lead through the opening quarter before dropping to fourth, then fifth, was up for third.

Going from debut winner to graded stakes winner in just his second start, Good Samaritan covered one mile on firm turf in 1:34.38 as the 3-1 second favorite. He earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) as the Summer Stakes is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series.

Good Samaritan paid $8, $3.30, and $2.80, Conquest Farenheit returned $2.60 and $2.40, and Channel Mark paid $5 to show.

Good Samaritan won by a head in his maiden debut Aug. 13 while going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Saratoga Race Course. He earned an 87 Equibase Speed Figure there, the highest number among the Summer Stakes field. He is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. 

"He's very professional," said Rosario, who also was aboard for Good Samaritan's  first-out victory 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."

WinStar bred Good Samaritan in Kentucky from the Pulpit mare Pull Dancer. Second dam Mayhavebeentheone is a half sister to graded stakes winner and sire Wiseman's Ferry. The family includes graded winner and late sire Bernstein.