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Summerly returns in star-studded Go for Wand

Summerly will make her return off a year-long layoff in the Go for Wand (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Half of the field in Sunday's $250,000 Go for Wand H. (G1) already boast a Grade 1 victory on their resumes, and the other half will be looking to join that elite group going nine furlongs at Saratoga. Of those four with Grade 1 wins, SUMMERLY (Summer Squall) draws a lot of attention while making her first start of 2006. Heroine of last year's Kentucky Oaks (G1), the chestnut miss ran for Steve Asmussen last season but will go under Scott Blasi's name here while Asmussen is serving out a suspension. Summerly has finished off the board only twice during her career -- eighth while making her career debut in August of 2004 and fourth in the Ashland S. (G1) prior to her Oaks score. Leading up to the Ashland, she added victories in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), and after the Kentucky Oaks, she finished third and second, respectively, in the Mother Goose S. (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). The C.C.A. Oaks was Summerly's final start as a sophomore, as she popped a splint bone and had to undergo surgery. She returned to the worktab in late March and she returns to competition here while getting a slight break in the weights from the co-highweight, TAKE D'TOUR (Tour d'Or), who could vie for favoritism.

That five-year-old mare dropped her first start for trainer David Fawkes when debuting for his shedrow in early March. She immediately made up for that faux pas by taking her next four by a total of 25 lengths, including the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) last out. Take d'Tour, who has yet to win around two turns in four dirt tries, will be going 1 1/8 miles on the main track for the first time here while carrying the co-highweight of 120 pounds under Cornelio Velasquez.

Sharing highweight duties is one of those still seeking a first Grade 1 win, but OONAGH MACCOOL (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) should be able to rectify that situation soon. The Todd Pletcher-conditioned four-year-old made her U.S. debut on the turf at Aqueduct last November, running sixth in the Soaring Softly S., but has since reeled off victories in the Rampart H. (G2) and Louisville Breeders' Cup H. (G2). She was just overtaken by Happy Ticket (Anet) in the Fleur de Lis H. (G2) last out, losing by a head after leading throughout, and will get a jockey switch back to John Velazquez for Sunday's Go for Wand.

Pletcher has two other entrants for the Go for Wand, but only two of the three will actually run. SPUN SUGAR (Awesome Again) captured the Apple Blossom H. (G1) earlier in the season and was fourth in the Ogden Phipps last out off a two-month break. POOL LAND (Silver Deputy) has dropped just one race from six career starts and most recently captured the Allaire Dupont Breeders' Cup Distaff S. (G3).

"I want to look at the race, see how it shapes up and decide after that," Pletcher explained. "They all have similar running styles that put them in stalking-type positions. Pool Land is probably the speediest of the three, so she'd probably be the one that would be closest to Take d'Tour. We're trying to win the race, so we're not going to use one as a rabbit."

Other contenders in this race include Grade 1 winner and Ogden Phipps third-place runner BALLETTO (UAE) (Timber Country) and Grade 2 queen NOTHING BUT FUN (Dixie Union), second in the Ogden Phipps last out.

Spun Sugar will lead the post parade while carrying 118 pounds, including jockey Mike Luzzi. Next in line will be CLASSY CHARM (Silver Charm), Mike Smith, 115; Balletto, Javier Castellano, 115; Nothing But Fun, Richard Migliore, 116; Oonagh Maccool; Pool Land, Garrett Gomez, 117; Summerly, Shaun Bridgmohan, 117; and Take d'Tour.

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