Speaktomeofsummer prevails in Lake Placid to cap big week for Clement
Speaktomeofsummer provided trainer Christophe Clement with a third win on Sunday's program at Saratoga and a second graded stakes victory in as many days when prevailing in the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes on Sunday.
Joel Rosario and Speaktomeofsummer sat well off the pace in the 1 1/8-miles Lake Placid for 3-year-old fillies, but at the top of the stretch they spurted between rivals to grab the lead and then battled Stunning Sky all the way to the wire before getting a nose down to win in a photo finish. The official margin was a head with tough-luck Stunning Sky followed by Queens Embrace in third and Key Biscayne completed the superfecta.
"She was moving beautifully but when I passed the leader, she waited a little bit and the other horse came back again," Rosario said. "But she came on again and I was able to hold them off."
Speaktomeofsummer, who went off as the 9-2 fourth choice in the eight-horse field, paid $11.60. She completed the trip on firm turf in 1:49.44.
The win by Speaktomeofsummer comes one day after emerging star Decorated Invader won the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) for 3-year-olds, which was the colt's fourth career stakes win. Clement tallied five wins in all during Saratoga's opening week.
"The last two days have been good. Let's keep it going," Clement said.
Owned by Waterford Stable, Speaktomeofsummer earned her diploma in start No. 2 at Monmouth Park in September and came right back to win the Nov. 3 Chelsey Flower at Belmont Park to close her 2-year-old campaign. The daughter of Summer Front resurfaced for her sophomore bow in the June 20 Wonder Again (G3) where she ran fourth while donning blinkers for the first time.
Clement, who called the equipment change a 'mistake' from the winner's circle, removed the shades for Sunday.
"I was very disappointed [in the Wonder Again]...She finished fourth but had trained pretty well. I probably made a mistake by putting blinkers on her, so we took them off," Clement said on the Fox Sports telecast. "Today, I told Joel if there was no speed go to the lead, otherwise just get a good trip."
Speaktomeofsummer was purchased by Wavertree as a weanling for $135,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The Lake Placid win likely sets her up for a try in the $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational on Aug. 16.
"I would need to think about it because of the timing," Clement said. "We will keep it open. Instead of me, we'll let her tell us and see what happens."