Summer in Saratoga enjoyed the first day of spring in New Orleans as she rallied from far back to notch a victory in the Tom Benson Memorial Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf at Fair Grounds March 20.
The five-year-old Hard Spun mare earned her first Stakes win in the Benson Memorial, and has finished in the money in seven of her 11 career starts.
Summer in Saratoga was settled toward the rear of the field during the early stages of the race by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Entering the far turn, Summer in Saratoga was full of run but had nowhere to go, as a wall of horses raced in front of her. Ortiz Jr. then angled her to the outside where she rallied strongly in the stretch to just get up by a neck to earn the victory.
Summer in Saratoga was bred in Kentucky by My Meadowview LLC. She is out of Love Theway Youare, winner of the G1 Vanity Handicap and runner-up in the G1 Santa Margarita Invitational. The female family also boasts Graded Stakes winners Gretzky the Great (G1; by Nyquist), Tower of Texas (G2) and Street Sounds (G2; by Street Cry).
Hard Spun is the sire of over 80 career Black Type winners. In addition to Summer in Saratoga, Hard Spun is represented by 2021 Stakes winners Antoinette (G3 The Very One Stakes), Caddo River (Listed Smarty Jones Stakes) and two-time 2021 Stakes winner, Silver State.
Hard Spun is standing the 2021 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $35,000, stands and nurses.
