James Weigel’s homebred DREAM OF SUMMER (Siberian Summer) was sent off the
9-5 favorite in Saturday’s $150,000
Gardenia H. (G3) at Ellis Park and did not
disappoint her backers, posting a 4 1/2-length decision under Corey Nakatani and
returning $5.60, $3.20 and $2.40.
Southern Surprise (Northern Prospect) was quickest from the gate when the
doors opened, but it was Tempus Fugit (Alphabet Soup) who flew to the lead,
setting splits of :22 2/5, :46 1/5, 1:10 and 1:22 3/5. Dream of Summer and Nakatani were content to settle in midpack while Southern Surprise closely
tracked the pacesetter, and began their move rounding the turn, coming out four
or five wide entering the stretch. The pair had easily taken over by the eighth
pole and just extended the margin of victory from there, finishing a mile on the
wet fast track in 1:35 1/5.
Halory Leigh (Halory Hunter) came from near the back to take second by a
half-length at 5-2, paying $3.20 and $2.80 while ending the $19.40 exacta.
Tempus Fugit held well for third and gave $4 at 9-2 while finishing the $97.20
trifecta. It was another 1 1/2 lengths farther back to Miss Fortunate (Deputy
Minister), who rounded out the 6-8-9-5 superfecta that returned $299.60. Josh’s
Madelyn (Quiet American) came next and was followed by Kristy Beethoven (Kris
S.), Southern Surprise and Slewpy’s Storm (Storm Creek).
Dream of Summer gained instant fame this year when she captured the Apple
Blossom H. (G1), but was already an established stakes winner, taking the A
Gleam Invitational H. (G2), Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) and California Cup Matron H.
last season. She’s placed in three other stakes so far as a six-year-old,
including the Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) before her Apple Blossom win.
From a 15-9-2-2 career mark, she’s now earned $943,650.
The California-bred gray is the most successful offspring out of the unraced
Mary’s Dream (Skywalker), who is also the dam of the stakes-placed It’s a
Shortcut (Mud Route) and an unnamed 2005 full sister to the Gardenia winner.
Dream of Summer stayed in her breeders’ possession after RNA’ing at the Barretts
October sale for $8,000.