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Horologist looks to get back on track in $120K Summer Colony

by Ryan Martin

Multiple graded stakes-winner Horologist will look to recapture her winning form when taking on a field that includes four additional stakes winners in Sunday’s eighth running of the nine-furlong $120,000 Summer Colony at Saratoga Race Course.

The Summer Colony, for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward who have not won a graded stake in 2021, honors Edward P. Evans’ talented distaffer who secured six graded stakes victories over six different racetracks for trainer Mark Hennig. The daughter of Summer Squall retired with earnings in excess of $1.4 million.

Hall of Famer Bill Mott will saddle 2020 New Jersey Horse of the Year Horologist, who seeks her first victory since capturing her 5-year-old commencement in the Top Flight Invitational on April 10 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The daughter of Gemologist registered moderate fractions last out when setting the pace in the Grade 3 Shuvee on July 25 at the Spa, fending off several challengers in the stretch, before being passed up by Royal Flag in the final strides to finish second beaten three-quarters of a length.

“She ran a great race that day,” Mott said. “She was unfortunate to miss last time. She seems to be training well so hopefully we can get her back into winning form.”

Horologist made her first start for Mott a winning one when capturing the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher in July 2020 at Monmouth Park, two starts before a three-length victory in the Grade 2 Beldame Invitational in October at Belmont Park.

Boasting a record of 24-8-3-4, Horologist has lifetime earnings of $826,939. She is owned by There’s A Chance Stable, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher.

Regular pilot Junior Alvarado will retain the mount from post 2.

Trainer Chad Brown will send out Peter Brant’s Dunbar Road, as well as Sumaya US Stable’s Gold Spirit.

Grade 1-winner Dunbar Road seeks her first triumph this season after two fifth-place finishes at graded stakes level. The daughter of champion-producing sire Quality Road is in search of her first win since capturing last year’s Grade 2 Delaware Handicap by three lengths before completing the trifecta in the Grade 2 Beldame Invitational at Belmont and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland.

During her sophomore campaign, Dunbar Road recorded her biggest claim to fame with a victory over a sloppy and sealed track in the Grade 1 Alabama in August 2019.

As the lone millionaire in the field, Dunbar Road boasts the highest bankroll with earnings in excess of $1.2 million.

Jockey Jose Ortiz will ride from post 3.

Gold Spirit, a good fourth in the Grade 3 Shuvee last out, will remove blinkers for her second start in North America. The 4-year-old chestnut daughter of Omayad, a Group 1 winner in her native Chile, was forwardly placed and in the clear in the last out Shuvee, tracking roughly one length off Horologist’s fractions before launching a bid in upper stretch and finishing fourth, beaten 2 ¼ lengths.

Jockey Joel Rosario picks up the mount from post 6.

Gibberish, trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. for e Five Thoroughbreds, will see a cut back in distance after finishing a good second in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 10. The dark bay or brown daughter of Lea maintained second position throughout the 10-furlong Delaware Handicap, finishing just 1 ¼ lengths behind Miss Marissa.

Attempting her first victory during her 4-year-old season, Gibberish was a four-time winner in 2020, including allowance optional claiming scores in South Florida ahead of a stakes win in the Treasure Chest on November 27 at Delta Downs.

Breaking from post 4, Gibberish will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Bass Stables’ Thankful, who seeks her first victory since capturing the Ladies Handicap in her seasonal bow on January 17 at Aqueduct. The daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah made her lone start at the Spa a winning one, breaking her maiden at third asking going nine furlongs on August 20 under jockey Luis Saez.

Breaking from post 5, Saez will climb back aboard for the first time since her maiden triumph.

Completing the field is So Darn Hot, who last out defeated winners going 1 1/16 miles on June 25 at Belmont Park for trainer George Weaver.

The 4-year-old bay daughter of Ghostzapper, out of graded stakes winner Tizahit, is a half-sister to Grade1-winning millionaire Come Dancing.

So Darn Hot will be piloted by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano from post 1.

The Summer Colony is carded as Race 9 on Sunday’s 10-race program at Saratoga Race Course. First post is 1:05 p.m. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.