By Ron Mitchell,
Summer Hit, sent off at 3-5 odds, did not disappoint as the gelding went wire-to-wire and withstood a stout challenge from longshot stablemate Longview Drive to win the All American Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO) May 26 at Golden Gate Fields.
It was the second consecutive victory in the Memorial Day fixture for the son of Bertrando.
With jockey Russell Baze aboard for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, both Hall of Famers, Summer Hit was in charge as the field entered the first turn not long after the break in the mile test for 3-year-olds and up. Setting moderate fractions of :24.64 and :48.62, Summer Hit was closely tracked by Pepper Crown, the 48-1 upset winner over Summer Hit in the San Francisco Mile (gr. III) exactly a month earlier.
Summer Hit and Pepper Crown continued to lead a closely bunched field through six furlongs in 1:12.68 around the second turn and the pace quickened slightly into the stretch, with seven-eighths of a mile timed in 1:25.12. Pepper Crown, on the inside, began to back up in the stretch as Longview Drive, the San Francisco fourth, gained in the middle of the track just to the outside of his more highly regarded stablemate. Those two battled to the finish, with Summer Hit digging in gamely for a head victory.
The final time was 1:38.01.
Summer Hit paid $3.20. $2.60, and $2.40 in winning his 11th race from 20 starts, and improved his earnings to $532,219. Longview Drive was worth $13.40 and $8.60 as the stablemates combined for a $17.40 $1 exacta. Hudson Landing held third, paying $4.60. Completing the field were China Prince, Pepper Crown, You Know I Know, and Minister Vivendi.
Hollendorfer is partner with John Carver in the ownership of Summer Hit, who also finished second in last year’s San Francisco Mile before going on to triumph in the All American.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/85305/summer-hit-game-in-all-american-victory#ixzz32uSIGJTf
