Summer Soiree

Groupie Doll Biggest Star of Keeneland Day 2

• By Glenye Cain Oakford
• November 6, 2013
• Breeding, Sales

Groupie Doll's emotional $3.1 million sale Nov. 6 sparks more increases during second session of Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Groupie Doll Heads Keeneland November Catalog

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• September 27, 2013
• Breeding, Sales, Kentucky

Champion Groupie Doll, some recent grade I-winning fillies, and Eblouissante, half sister to Horse of the Year Zenyatta, are among the 3,602 horses Keeneland has cataloged for its 2013 November breeding stock sale Nov. 5-14.

Pedigree Analysis - The King of Royal Ascot

• July 9, 2013
• International

by John P. Sparkman
Danzig proved himself a sire of sires, and his greatest influence has been abroad instead of in the country of his birth, and that influence has rarely been more evident than at Royal Ascot in 2013.

Pedigree: Bringing the Battle to Kentucky

• April 30, 2013
• Triple Crown

Aidan O'Brien noted that Lines of Battle was sent to Dubai with the specific purpose of picking up Kentucky Derby-qualifying points offered in the race, and he earned 100 points, assuring him a spot in the starting gate.

Mettee Replaces Motion as Team Valor Trainer

• By Claire Novak
• April 5, 2013
• Racing, International, Kentucky

Team Valor International has hired Rick Mettee to train all of its North American-based racehorses, replacing Graham Motion, the partnership group announced April 5.

Grade I Winner Summer Soiree Retired

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• November 27, 2012
• Racing, Breeding, West Region, Kentucky

Grade I winner Summer Soiree wrapped up her racing career by passing the $500,000 earnings plateau and adding to her grade I credentials with a third-place finish in the Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) Nov. 25.

35-1 Better Lucky All Good in Wild Matriarch

• By Jack Shinar
• November 25, 2012
• Racing, West Region

Better Lucky gave Godolphin Racing another grade I victory when she registered a 35-1 shocker in an adventurous renewal of the $250,000 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) on the turf Nov. 25 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Dayatthespa Can Keep It Going in Matriarch

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• November 23, 2012
• Racing, West Region

Dayatthespa, who has won five in a row at three different tracks, will try to keep her streak alive in the $250,000 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) Nov. 25 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Daisy Devine Takes Aim at Keeneland Sweep

• By Frank Angst
• October 3, 2012
• Racing, Midwest Region, Kentucky

Jenny Wiley Stakes winner Daisy Devine will face fellow grade I winners Tapitsfly and Summer Soiree when she starts in the First Lady Stakes Oct. 6 at Keeneland Race Course.

Zagora Zips to Course Record in Ballston Spa

• By Jack Shinar
• August 25, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

Favored Zagora found firm going much to her liking in capturing the $250,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT), presented by Jose Cuervo, in record time on the inner turf course Aug. 25 at Saratoga Race Course.

Summer Soiree Makes Return in Ballston Spa

• By Jack Shinar
• August 22, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

Grade I winner Summer Soiree, last seen finishing second in the Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) last November, makes her 2012 debut in the $250,000 Ballston Spa Stakes Presented by Jose Cuervo (gr. IIT) on Saratoga's inner turf.

Star Billing Comes Out On Top in Matriarch

• By Jack Shinar
• November 25, 2011
• Racing, West Region

Star Billing, advancing along the inside for Victor Espinoza, edged away from front-running Summer Soiree for her first grade I victory in the $250,000 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park Nov. 25.

Motion Trio Duels Never Retreat in Matriarch

• By Jack Shinar
• November 20, 2011
• Racing, Southwest Region

Trainer Graham Motion, fresh off a grade I win in the Hollywood Turf Cup, guns for another at Hollywood Park when he sends out three entrants in the $250,000 Matriarch Stakes on the turf Nov. 25.

Together Wheels Right Back to Take QE II

• By Jason Shandler
• October 16, 2011
• Racing, Kentucky

Coming right back off just seven days rest, European invader Together outlasted Marketing Mix to win the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) Oct. 15 at Keeneland.

QE II Winner Together Headed Back to Ireland

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• October 16, 2011
• Racing, International, Breeders' Cup, Kentucky

The iron filly Together was scheduled to return to Ireland Oct. 16, a day after her impressive 1 1/4-length victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (gr. IT).

THS: Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

• October 13, 2011
• Racing

Jason, Evan, and Tim Holland of TwinSpires.com handicap the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland this week. watch video

QE II Challenge Cup: Catch Me If You Can

• By Steve Haskin
• October 12, 2011
• Racing, Breeders' Cup

It will be speed vs. closing power as Summer Soiree and Winter Memories clash.

Together Pointed For Queen Elizabeth II

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• October 9, 2011
• Breeders' Cup, Kentucky

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith's Together, who rallied to finish second in the Oct. 8 First Lady (gr. IT), will remain at Keeneland this week for a run in the Oct. 15 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Slideshow: The Week In Photos - Aug 23, 2011

• August 23, 2011

Awesome Gem, Royal Delta, Summer Soiree, and more. View Slideshow

Summer Soiree Helps Irwin Reach Milestone

• By Esther Marr
• August 23, 2011
• Racing, Kentucky

Barry Irwin reached a significant milestone when Summer Soiree prevailed in the Aug. 20 Del Mar Oaks (gr. I). Irwin is in his 25th season syndicating and managing racehorses, and Summer Soiree is his 25th grade I winner.

Summer Soiree Survives Del Mar Oaks Assault

• By Jack Shinar
• August 20, 2011
• Racing, West Region

Summer Soiree went west in pursuit of her first grade I victory and the favorite had just enough left in the final jumps to nip fast-closing Star Billing and Nereid in the the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 20.

Summer Soiree Takes Next Step in Del Mar Oaks

• By Jack Shinar
• August 17, 2011
• Racing, West Region

Off a scintillating win in the Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. IIIT) in her turf debut, Summer Soiree ships cross-country for the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) against a quality field Aug. 20.

Summer Soiree Steams Home in Boiling Springs

• By Jack Shinar
• June 25, 2011
• Racing, Northeast Region

Making her turf debut, Summer Soiree disposed of pacesetter Salary Drive on the turn for home and romped to victory by 8 1/2 lengths in the $155,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park June 25.

Boiling Springs: Pontenuovo Makes U.S. Debut

• By Jack Shinar
• June 22, 2011
• Racing, Northeast Region

Pontenuovo, a group III winner at Deauville last year, makes her United States debut for trainer Patrick Biancone in the $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf at Monmouth Park June 25.

Saez Arrested Following Domestic Incident

• By Evan Hammonds
• May 12, 2011
• Northeast Region

Jockey Gabriel Saez was arrested May 10 in New Castle, Del., on a domestic incident charge. The 23-year-old rider was released later that day on $100 unsecured bond.

Joyful Victory Favored in Deep Oaks Field

• By Esther Marr
• May 4, 2011
• Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky

Fox Hills Farms' Joyful Victory, runaway winner of Oaklawn Park's Honeybee (gr. III) and Fantasy (gr. II) in her past two starts, tops a stellar cast of 13 3-year-old fillies entered in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

2011 Ky Oaks - Predict the Order of Finish

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• May 3, 2011
• Kentucky Oaks

Who will win this year's Kentucky Oaks? Will it be a Joyful Victory? Is it time for a Summer Soiree? Are you expecting a Street Storm? Or will the results be Plum Pretty? Predict the Order

R Heat Lightning Leads Kentucky Oaks Work Tab

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• April 30, 2011
• Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky

R Heat Lightning, the likely favorite in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) for trainer Todd Pletcher, put in her final drill prior to the race April 30, working a half-mile in :48 1/5 at Churchill Downs.

TCI - Kentucky Oaks Preview (Video)

• April 27, 2011
• Triple Crown

A special Triple Crown Insider looks at the Kentucky Oaks, including an interview with Barry Irwin of Team Valor, owners of Summer Soiree. Watch Video

Summer Soiree Zips Six Furlongs at Keeneland

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• April 23, 2011
• Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky

Team Valor International's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contender Summer Soiree worked a quick six furlongs in 1:10.80 on her own under jockey Gabriel Saez April 23 at Keeneland.

Kentucky Oaks Field Could be Full

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• April 22, 2011
• Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky

With the addition of Suave Voir Faire and Royal Delta to the list of prospective starters in the 137 running of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), there are 16 fillies listed as "likely" or "possible."

R Heat Lightning Has Bullet Work at Belmont

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• April 18, 2011
• Racing, Kentucky Oaks, Northeast Region, Kentucky

E. Paul Robsham Stables' R Heat Lightning, the possible favorite for the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, turned heads with a bullet half-mile work April 16 at Belmont Park.

Summer Soiree Bought by Team Valor

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• March 31, 2011
• Racing, Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky

Summer Soiree, who romped by 10 3/4 lengths in the March 26 Bourbonette Oaks (gr. III) at Turfway Park, has been bought by Team Valor International and will be pointed to the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

The Week In Photos: March 27, 2011

• March 28, 2011

The weekend's racing from the US, Dubai, and Japan. View Slideshow

Summer Soiree Romps in Bourbonette Oaks

• By Jason Shandler
• March 26, 2011
• Racing, Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky

Summer Soiree had no trouble in her synthetic surface debut, as she dismantled the field in the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (gr. III) March 26 at Turfway Park and stamped herself a serious threat for the May 6 Kentucky Oaks.

Summer Soiree Comes Storming Into Bourbonette

• By Jason Shandler
• March 23, 2011
• Racing, Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky

Summer Soiree takes on 10 rivals in the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (gr. III) March 26 at Turfway Park. The one-mile Polytrack contest is one of five stakes on Turfway's 12-race program.

Dixie City Gets Her Year Started in Honeybee

• By Jack Shinar
• March 10, 2011
• Racing, Kentucky Oaks, Southwest Region

Dixie City makes her first start since winning Aqueduct's Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) last November as one of the favorites in the $125,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park March 12.