Summer Colony to Surface 'Down the Shore'

Monmouth Park racing secretary Mike Dempsey said he expects six fillies and mares for next Saturday's Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), the star of the show to be Edward P. Evans' Summer Colony.

The 58th running of the Molly Pitcher, the major distaff event of the year in New Jersey, will offer $300,000 and will be run at 1 1/8 miles. Others expected include John J. Greely III's Enjoy; Albert Fried Jr.'s Moonlightandbeauty; ElizabethWalsh's She's Got the Beat; Sumaja US Stable's Wild Spirit, and Stronach Stable's Winning Chance.

Five-year-old Summer Colony, a homebred daughter of Summer Squall out of the Pleasant Colony mare Probably Colony, has earned $1,222,430. She holds the distinction of being the only horse to have beaten Azeri, finishing a length in front of her in the La Canada Stakes (gr. II) back on Feb. 9, 2002.

A winner of nine of 20 starts, Summer Colony's last effort showed her usual grit and determination, finishing just a neck shy of Mandy's Gold in the Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff Handicap (gr. III) on May 16. Winless this year, Summer Colony won four graded stakes last year, including the Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga. The Mark Hennig-trained mare was second in the Molly Pitcher last year behind Atelier at odds on.