Summer Hit records win in Brubaker

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Del Mar, CA (Sports Network) - Summer Hit, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, set most of the pace and held off Wilkinson down the stretch to capture Saturday's $90,000 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar.

The mile race featured two from Bob Baffert's barn, Liaison and Sky Kingdom, who went off as 5-2 co-favorites and 3-1 third pick Clubhouse Ride, three-time runner-up behind Game On Dude.

Trained by co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer, Summer Hit was the 4-1 fourth choice in the seven-horse field. Scratched from the Brubaker were Soi Phet and Lucky Primo.

Up the backstretch, Summer Hit and Batti Man were running one-two with Wilkinson racing in third. Clubhouse Ride was last in his first start in five weeks.

Around the final turn, Summer Hit was on the inside with Batti Man three wide and Wilkinson third between horses. Entering the stretch, Summer Hit took a clear lead over Wilkinson as Batti Man tired.

Summer Hit raced through the stretch, holding off a determined Wilkinson as Liaison rallied into third. At the wire, Summer Hit posted a 1 1/4-victory over Wilkinson with Liaison third.

Completing the order finish were Sky Kingdom, Clubhouse Ride, Batti Man and Hawk's Eyes.

Summer Hit covered the eight furlongs in 1:34.99 on Del Mar's synthetic main track.

Summer Hit registered his fourth win out of seven starts this year. The 4- year-old gelding has found the winners's circle in eight of 13 career starts. Saturday's win was worth $54,000 to bring the gelding's lifetime earnings to $338,835.

His Hall of Fame trainer has Summer Hit racing up and down the California coast this year. Running primarily on grass, the 4-year-old had two allowance wins at Santa Anita after placing third at the track.

In two starts at Golden Gate Fields, Summer Hit finished second on the turf in the San Francisco Mile and won the All American over the track's artificial main surface. He was coming off a sixth at Del Mar in the California Dreamin' Handicap on grass as the 9-5 favorite.

Summer Hit paid $10.60, $6.00 and $4.40. Wilkinson returned $7.00 and $4.60, and Liaison paid $3.40 to show.