ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Among three horses he has been on in races earlier this summer, Jono Jones chose to ride Stormy Rush in Saturday’s $250,000 Summer Stakes, which makes the unbeaten Stormy Rush an imposing contender in the one-mile turf route for 2-year-olds at Woodbine. The winner gets an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs, as part of the Win and You’re In program.
Stormy Rush, trained by Roger Attfield, was ridden by Jones in his previous races, both at six furlongs. He graduated by 4 1/2 lengths in his debut on the grass July 17, and then captured a first-level allowance by three lengths Aug. 12.
Jones is excited with the way that Stormy Rush has come up to the Grade 3 Summer.
“He’s training so good,” said Jones. “He relaxes, and quickens when you want him to. I can’t see the distance being a problem. To me, he’s even better on turf. He has a turn of foot that’s kind of special. I love him to death.”
Trainer Greg De Gannes entered Silverleo and Midway Train, who both were previously ridden by Jones.
Silverleo won each of his grass outings, including the one-mile allowance prep for the Summer, which wasn’t as impressive as his maiden victory. “He didn’t appreciate the cut in the ground,” said De Gannes, regarding the prep.
De Gannes said he wasn’t surprised by the turf prowess of Silverleo, who is by freshman sire Badge of Silver.
“I had every reason to believe that he’d do well on it,” De Gannes explained. “Badge of Silver was a very good turf horse.”
Midway Train disposed of two rivals on the front end before taking his only start by a neck, in a seven-furlong maiden special on the turff Aug. 29.
“He’s a very talented colt, with a bright future,” said De Gannes.
The Summer also lured the promising American invaders Pluck, Forum, and Ronin Dax, along with Rockin Heat and Breaking Ball.
Pluck is based at Monmouth with trainer Todd Pletcher. He finished second in the Aug. 14 Continental Mile Stakes, only to be demoted to fourth by disqualification.
Forum earned the highest Beyer Speed Figure in the field, an 83, when he graduated over 1 1/16 miles of grass at Saratoga on Aug 28.
Ronin Dax broke slowly and then rallied wide to win his maiden going a mile at Del Mar for trainer Robert Troeger.
