Summer Mis a Hit in Four-Horse TCA Photo

Richard Otto Stable's Summer Mis, benefiting from a clever ride from Rene Douglas, outfought Don't Countess Out and Born To Dance in the last furlong, to capture the $125,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland on Sunday.

Summer Mis, an 11-1 shot, won for the fourth straight time while claiming her first graded stakes victory.

The Illinois-bred daughter of Summer Squall, trained by Chicago-based Anthony Mitchell, forced the pace while three-wide and closed with determination to edge her rivals in a four-horse photo finish.

"I'm so happy to win a race for this guy (trainer Mitchell)," Douglas said. "He doesn't have many horses but he does such a good job. He gave this filly a rest and she came back stronger than ever. She rates so nicely. I really love her."

Summer Mis posted a final clocking of 1:09.77 on the fast main track, edging Don't Countess Out by a head, with Born to Dance a nose back in third.

They were followed, in order, by favored Bauhauser (ARG), Savorthetime, Bruanna, Jodys Deelite, Distinctive Code, Vicki Vallencourt and Crow Jane.

The winner paid $25.80, $10.80 and $6.40. Don't Countess Out returned $7.80 and $4.20. Born to Dance paid $4.80 to show.

With her victory, Summer Mis improved her record to 15-8-1-1 and increased her lifetime earnings to $358,903 in front of 13,246 fans at Keeneland.

(Chart, Equibase)