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 Corey Nakatani and Dubleo after winning the Summer Stakes. |
On the undercard of the Atto Mile were two other stakes events also around 1 turn of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. Earliest in the card was the Grade 2, $250,000 Summer Stakes for two-year-olds at a mile. Eight went to post in this event, with Todd Pletcher trainee Dubleo sent off as the 9-4 favorite. Dubleo shipped in from Monmouth Park coming off a three-race winning streak, his last start being a neck victory in the Continental Mile. Also in the field were 5-2 second choice and local hope Dance with Ravens, making only his second career start and still a maiden, and 4-1 third choice Copyco from Mommouth Park also trained by Pletcher.
Right out of the gate, 14-1 longshot Tommy's Topper and favored Dubleo battled on the front end, getting the initial quarter in a brisk 22.55 over the very firm going. Entering the turn, jockey Corey Nakatani unleashed Dubleo, and he showed his class, drawing away from the field by 2 1/2 lengths right away after a half in 45.27. Dance with Ravens put in a mild bid at the top of the lane, after Dubleo ran 6 furlongs in 1:10, but it was too late. Dubleo easily held off the field under a hand ride through the stretch, completing the distance in 1:34.69. It was 2 1/4 lengths back to Dance with Ravens in second, and another length back to 12-1 shot Go to the Sun in third. Third choice Copyco raced well off the pace, went very wide on the turn, and showed no rally. This was the second time Todd Pletcher shipped in a horse to win the Summer Stakes, the last was in 2002 when Lismore Knight defeated Wando.
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Purse: $250,000 Distance: 1 mile turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Dubleo Nakatani 6.50 3.60 3.20 4 Dance With Ravens Kabel 3.10 2.80 5 Go to the Sun Callaghan 4.90
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Dubleo heads for the winner's circle. His jockey Corey Nakatani said, "It's a long stretch. I talked to Todd (Pletcher ) yesterday in New York and he told me 'the horse could be really keen coming out of the gate. All I need do is just be patient where I was at. I didn't particularly have to be on the lead but he'd probably put you there.' So I just rode him accordingly, asked him when we turned for home, he set down and they didn't catch us"
The other undercard stakes race was the Grade 2, $250,000 Canadian Handicap at "about" 1 1/8 miles on the turf for older fillies and mares. Defending champion and Sovereign Award winner Inish Glora was back, and was sent off as the 9-5 favorite in the field of nine over 3-1 second choice Madeira Mist, shipping in from Saratoga for trainer Christophe Clement. Also in the field were Very One Handicap winner Binya up from New York and Dance Smartly Handicap winner Mona Rose.
As expected, 36-1 longshot Heyahohowdy went to the front right away to set an honest pace of 23.46 and 46.01 down the long backstretch, with favorite Inish Glora stalking her a length back and just to her outside. Halfway down the stretch, Inish Glora finally shook off the stubborn Heyahohowdy and got the lead with a furlong to go, but the fast early pace had taken its toll. 11-1 longshot Classic Stamp, who was unhurried early, split horses at the top of the stretch and rallied strongly to collar Inish Glora by the 1/16 pole and pulled away to win by a length in a final time of 1:43.59. It was another 1 3/4 length back to Heyahohowdy in third, completing a trifecta sweep of local horses.
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Purse: $250,000 Distance: 1 1/8 mile turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Classic Stamp Husbands 23.90 8.30 5.00 1 Inish Glora Kabel 3.60 2.90 9 Heyahohowdy Sabourin 6.70
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Classic Stamp heads for the winner's circle. She gave trainer Cliff Hopmans his first stakes win of the season. He said, "I'm just thrilled for the connections. To see them come up with such a wonderful filly is a thrill for me for them. She needs to run down speed and that's what she did today. She's just a wonderful filly, beautifully bred. We're absolutely thrilled." Winning jockey Patrick Husbands added, "She's an honest filly, every time she races, she wants to run them down. She really tries so hard and she pulled off the win. I'm happy to be with this team."
Atto Mile and Canadian racing links:
All photos ©2004 Cindy Pierson Dulay.
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