Summer Applause Gallops to Victory in DuPont
Gillian S. Campbell, Greenwood Lodge Farm, Inc., Dan Clark & Greg Skoda’s Summer Applause attended the pace, assumed the lead in mid-stretch and galloped to victory in the $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at Pimlico Race Course.
John Velazquez had the riding assignment on the Chad Brown trainee, a daughter of Harlan’s Holiday. Summer Applause collected her third stakes victory, having already won the Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds in February and the Top Flight Handicap (Grade 2) at Aqueduct in March.
Summer Applause, who covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.54, finished two lengths clear of runner-up Sea Island. Brushed by a Star finished third.
Favored in a field of five fillies and mares, Summer Applause paid $5.20 to win.
ALLAIRE DUPONT DISTAFF STAKES QUOTES
Chad Brown (trainer, Summer Applause, winner) – “She ran great. She was spotting everyone six pounds. I was worried about that when I was handicapping the race the last couple days. To really pull away like that and to run such a strong race against some nice fillies, giving weight, I’m really proud of her. We didn’t know what the pace was going to be, so I left it up to Johnny.
John Velazquez (jockey, Summer Applause, winner) – “There wasn’t much speed in the race. I wanted to stay reasonably close to the lead. I asked her for run in the last quarter of a mile and she responded well. We knew it was going to be a slow pace coming into the race. When I needed to move with her she gave me the run I asked for.”
Shug McGaughey (trainer, Sea Island, 2nd) –“I thought she ran a good race. There wasn’t any pace and she made a good run at her. I thought maybe we were going to get her at the head of the stretch, but it’s a pretty nice filly that won.”
Javier Castellano (jockey, Sea Island, 2nd) – “I liked the way she ran, but unfortunately we were second best today. She put in a good effort and I was satisfied with the way she did it.”