**Please see the attached photo of Summer Laugh. Credit NYRA,
Monday, August 9, 2010
Contact: Jon Forbes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Nine years ago, a 3-year-old filly named Summer Colony broke her maiden by 32 ¾ lengths in her seventh start, an off the turf event at Saratoga Race Course. The Edward P. Evans homebred would go on to win nine more races in her career, including the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Handicap at the Spa the following year, and earn over $1.4 million.
Summer Laugh, the third foal out of Summer Colony, needed only one start to show her talent as she debuted a 6 ¾-length winner at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday.
Summer Laugh joins the New York Watch series, which profiles up-and-comers that have recently cleared the maiden ranks at Aqueduct,
Guided by John Velazquez – who rode Summer Colony in seven of her victories, including the 2002 Personal Ensign – Summer Laugh pressed the pace through a quarter of 21.83, poked her head in front midway on the far turn, and kicked away from her seven opponents when put to a drive.
“They’re different horses, so you can’t compare them,” said Velazquez when asked to measure up Summer Laugh against her dam. “But Summer Laugh certainly has a lot of talent. That’s definitely one thing I can say about her, especially with the way she did everything yesterday.”
Summer Laugh, who like her mother is a Ned Evans homebred, covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:18.12 as the 3-5 favorite.
She is by top stallion Distorted Humor, who has sired Belmont Stakes winner
“We were pleased with the way she had been training and we were hopeful we’d see a performance like the one we saw,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who also sent out sharp first-time starter Hysterical Cat on Sunday. “She had been working in company with
Many of the industry’s brightest stars embarked upon their careers at the NYRA tracks, including a number of recent Triple Crown race winners. Super Saver, Big Brown, Jazil, Birdstone, Funny Cide, and Empire Maker are all among the
The list also includes recent champions Gio Ponti and Indian Blessing; brilliant fillies Flashing, Little Belle, Music Note, and Devil May Care; and Quality Road, who has won three Grade 1 races so far in his career, including this year’s Metropolitan Handicap.
-30-
