Christophe Clement’s Summer Front takes on the 1 mile track in the Duluth Stakes
The Christophe Clement trained, Summer Front, holds a spot in the $100,000 Duluth Stakes at Saratoga on 22nd July, 2012, and the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on 21st July, 2012. The connections have
decided to run him at Saratoga.
The trainer made this decision based on the thunderstorms in New Kent in Virginia and, decided to stick with the one in New York. The Virginia Derby runs over a distance of 1 1/4 miles while the Duluth Stakes covers 1 mile.
The trainer took these two things into consideration and told the press:
“The combination of stretching him and the weather was slightly overwhelming.”
Clement further stated:
“The owner wanted to make a decision yesterday about what place to go. We decided to send the horse to Saratoga (from Belmont) in order to run him here Sunday.”
The son of War Front, out of mare Rose Of Summer, would perform better on a one mile track, since he has done it before.
On 16th June, 2012, the Waterford Stable owned runner won the Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park which he completed in 1 minute and 33.74, with the help of jockey, Ramon Dominguez.
With his brisk pace, he defeated the Graham Motion trained, Howe Great, while the third place was secured by the Bill Mott trained, Film Shot.
For this grand race, the sophomore will be teamed with rider Ramon Dominguez. Summer Front has excelled on turf tracks in the four starts that he has competed in. The trainer is optimistic about the runner’s chances, as he said:
“If he runs well, we’ll have some other races where he could run this summer.”
Howe Great and Film Shot will also run in the Duluth Stakes, and will be looking to even the score from their Hill Prince Stakes defeat.
On 14h July, 2012, rider Ramon Dominguez led the Richard Dutrow trained, Redeemed, to victory in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing at Philadelphia Park, where the duo impressively completed the 1 ½ mile track in 2 minutes
and 28.01 and defeated, Not Abroad.
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