Summer Doldrums Wins Colonial Turf Cup by a Nose

June 16, 2007

Summer Doldrums outgamed favored Strike a Deal in a thrilling head to head stretch duel to win the $750,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. III) Saturday at Colonial Downs and avenged a nose loss to that rival three weeks ago in the Straight Deal Stakes at Belmont.

Summer Doldrums’ head victory in the first leg of the Jacobs Investments Grand Slam of Grass puts him in line for a $2 million bonus if he can win the $1,000,000 Virginia Derby (gr. II), the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes and the $3,000,000 Breeders’ Cup T

urf (gr. I) later this year.

Jockey Jose Lezcano worked out a perfect trip for Summer Doldrums.  Breaking alertly from post five, Summer Doldrums settled beautifully for Lezcano and was able to tuck into the rail as the field hit the first turn. 

Souvenir Slew seized the early lead and was able to relax on a fairly slow pace of 24.31 and 48.84.  Mint Slewlep pressed Souvenir Slew while racing two-wide around the first turn.  Strike a Deal found a perfect spot on the rail tracking in third, two lengths behind Souvenir Slew in the early going.  Summer Doldrums tracked right behind Strike a Deal.

Souvenir Slew kept clicking off 24 second quarters on the lead under Mike Smith while Strike a Deal and Summer Doldrums continued to skim the rail down the backstretch.  Mysterious Peintre moved up three-wide entering the far turn to turn up the pressure on the pacesetter.  Mint Slewlep advanced two-wide on the turn to emerge with a narrow advantage over Souvenir Slew and Mysterious Peintre at the top of the lane.

Souvenir Slew fought back along the rail to kick clear from Mint Slewlep and Mysterious Peintre but Summer Doldrums tipped six-wide at the top of the stretch to launch a powerful rally and Strike a Deal found room at the sixteenth pole to suddenly emerge on even terms with Summer Doldrums.

Summer Doldrums and Strike a Deal battled stride for stride in the final sixteenth with Summer Doldrums holding the narrowest of advantages while racing outside.  Strike a Deal got a short nose in front two strides before the wire but Summer Doldrums fought back in the final stride to win the head bob and the $450,000 winner’s share of the Colonial Turf Cup.

Souvenir Slew held on well to save third, 2 ¾ lengths behind the winner.

Summer Doldrums ran the 1 3/16-miles in 1:55.68 over the firm turf course.  The Street Cry colt pushed his bankroll to $631,716 with the win.  The Colonial Turf was Summer Doldrums’ fourth win from 10 starts for Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence.

Summer Doldrums and Strike a Deal will likely renew their rivalry in the $1,000,000 Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Colonial Downs on July 21.  The Virginia Derby is the second leg of the Grand Slam of Grass.

Silver Charades Wins All Along Breeders’ Cup

Silver Charades uncorked a devastating stretch rally to win the $200,000 All Along Breeders’ Cup (gr. III) Saturday at Colonial Downs.    

Silver Charades dropped back to eighth through the first three-quarters under Jose Valdiva, Jr. and overcame a slow pace to score by 1 ½ lengths over Humoristic and post her first stakes victory.  Silver Charades ran the 1 1/8 miles over the Secretariat Turf Course in 1:49.62.

The five-year-old Broad Brush mare improved her record to four wins and $244,970 in earnings from 13 career starts. 

Martin Wolfson trains Silver Charades for Live Oak Plantation.