Summer Starlet sharp in Spinaway

Packing a big finishing punch, Summer Starlet stamped herself a major player in the two-year-old filly division recording a convincing win in Saturday’s $300,000 Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga. The exciting daughter of City of Light remained perfect, rallying to win going away by 6 1/2 lengths pace the first time out four weeks earlier, and Ricardo Santana Jr. was up for Steve Asmussen.

“The only thing I can say is I was being a good passenger,” said Santana, who picked up the mount after Jose Ortiz opted to ride at Kentucky Downs Saturday. “I worked with that filly before, two times from the gate. Steve has got confidence in the filly. He gave me the opportunity to ride, and she was so classy today. She (broke) sharp, I (didn't) get panicked, I (sat) behind the speed, and she was much the best today."

Summer Starlet left the starting gate as the 8-5 favorite and displayed more tractability the second time out, stalking a couple lengths back in third as Schuylerville winner Harper’s Corner sped forward to lead the way through opening fractions in :22.35 and :44.96 while being pressed by debut maiden winner Angel of Kirk.

Summer Starlet began to advance nearing the completion of the far turn and swung wide into the stretch full of momentum, striking the front in upper stretch and powering clear with a furlong remaining. She rolled home to win by nearly five lengths, completing seven furlongs in a respectable 1:22.72.

“Ricardo gave her a beautiful trip,” Asmussen said. “Obviously, her debut race showed a tremendous amount of ability. She's done extremely well since. She was away from there great and she was in hand in a very comfortable position for him. And it went perfectly. I'm unbelievably comfortable with who she is, and I don't think her (distance) window is small. And who she is physically, I think time will fill out that beautiful frame of hers." 

Harper’s Corner, the 9-2 third choice, easily held second, 7 1/4 lengths clear of Angel of Kirk. Stress Relief, Bandmaster, and Girvy Girl came next under the wire. Life Changing, the 2-1 second choice following a frontrunning romp the first time out, bobbled at the break and traveled wide before being eased late.

Owned by BC Stables, Wattswood Stables, Bob Abritton, Jay Graham, and David Badgett, Summer Starlet was bred in Kentucky by Newstead Corp and was purchased by her connections for $335,000 as a yearling at last year’s Keeneland September sale. She’s the first stakes winner out of the Street Sense mare Act Now.

Asmussen said the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland will be the likely target for Summer Starlet, who will be prepping for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland 27 days later. 

"With the Breeders' Cup being right at Keeneland that would be the choice,” Asmussen said. “In a perfect world, of course. I'm assuming a lot of things, but yes."