Favored Dubleo, trained by Todd Pletcher, scored a front-running victory in the $277,750 Summer Stakes (Can-II) for 2-year-olds Sunday on the Woodbine turf.Going into the one-mile event, Dubleo (pronounced double-o) was already a four-time winner (two on dirt, two on the lawn) in six starts in a busy campaign, including the Continental Mile Stakes in his last start at Monmouth Park. Sept. 5. Sunday's 2 1/4-length winner was clocked in 1:34.69 on firm turf.With Corey Nakatani aboard, Dubleo and Tommy's Topper dueled through fractions of :22.55 and :45.27 before the favorite wrested command going into the far turn. About three-eighths from home, Dubleo, a son of Southern Halo, held a two-length advantage, then through the stretch was able to handily withstand a charge from stalking second choice Dance With Ravens. Go to the Sun came on for third.It was the second time in three years that Pletcher had shipped a Summer hopeful to Woodbine and returned with the money. In 2002, the Pletcher-trained Lismore Knight outbattled Wando in a thrilling finish."It's a long stretch," said Nakatani. "I talked to Todd yesterday in New York and he told me the horse could be really keen coming out of the gate. All I need do is just be patient where I was at. I didn't particularly have to be on the lead but he'd probably put (me) there. So I just rode him accordingly, asked him when we turned for home, he set down and they didn't catch us."With the winner's share of $166,650, Dubleo, a $90,000 Keeneland yearling purchase, pushed his career bankroll to $278,459 for Scatuorchio, Wetterman and Pletcher.
The slight 2-1 choice returned $6.50, $3.60 and $3.20, combining with Dance With Ravens ($3.10, $2.80) for a $23.30 (2-4) exacta. Go to the Sun ($4.90) completed a trifecta worth $143.40.(Chart, Equibase)
