Hot Summer catches fire in Victory Ride

Maple Forest held on for second, with Roman Treasure (Roman

Ruler) third and A Z Warrior (Bernardini) fourth. Funny Sunny

(Sharp Humor), Jealous Girl (Petionville), Moon Buzz (Malibu Moon), Precious

Soul (Distorted Humor) and Offlee Wicked (Offlee Wild) rounded out the order of

finish. Valiant Passion (Lion Heart) was scratched.

This victory came as the second Grade 3 win for Hot Summer, who also won the

Comely S. (G3) at Aqueduct in April. Following that was her latest start, the 1

1/8-mile Black Eyed Susan S. (G2), where she finished third behind Royal Delta

(Empire Maker) and Buster's Ready (More Than Ready), subsequent winners of the

Alabama S. (G1) and Mother Goose S. (G1). Hot Summer's record now stands at

7-4-0-2, $245,700.

Bred by Lazy Lane Farms in Virginia, Hot Summer was purchased by her current

owner for $180,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is out of the

stakes-placed Summer Delight (Quiet American), whose first registered foal is

the multiple stakes-placed Southwest (Cozzene). The 12-year-old mare has also

produced an unnamed juvenile colt by Lemon Drop Kid, an unnamed yearling colt by

Hard Spun and a 2011 full brother to the Victory Ride heroine.

Hot Summer's third dam is Grade 3 victress Key to the Bridge (Key to the

Mint), dam of Grade 2 scorer Islefaxyou (Storm Bird). More importantly, her

fourth dam is 1991 Broodmare of the Year Toll Booth (Buckpasser), meaning she

can trace to A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew), Summer Squall (Storm Bird) and Lemon Drop

Kid (Kingmambo), among others.