BALTIMORE, 05-18-13---Gillian S. Campbell, Greenwood Lodge Farm, Inc., Dan Clark & Greg Skoda’s Summer Applause attended the pace, assumed the lead in mid-stretch and galloped to victory in the $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at Pimlico Race Course.

John Velazquez had the riding assignment on the Chad Brown trainee, a daughter of Harlan’s Holiday. Summer Applause collected her third stakes victory, having already won the Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds in February and the Top Flight Handicap (Grade 2) at Aqueduct in March.

Summer Applause, who covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.54, finished two lengths clear of runner-up Sea Island.  Brushed by a Star finished third.  

Favored in a field of five fillies and mares, Summer Applause paid $5.20 to win.

ALLAIRE DUPONT DISTAFF STAKES QUOTES

Chad Brown (trainer, Summer Applause, winner)– “She ran great. She was spotting everyone six pounds. I was worried about that when I was handicapping the race the last couple days. To really pull away like that and to run such a strong race against some nice fillies, giving weight, I’m really proud of her. We didn’t know what the pace was going to be, so I left it up to Johnny.

John Velazquez (jockey, Summer Applause, winner) – “There wasn’t much speed in the race. I wanted to stay reasonably close to the lead. I asked her for run in the last quarter of a mile and she responded well. We knew it was going to be a slow pace coming into the race. When I needed to move with her she gave me the run I asked for.”

Shug McGaughey (trainer, Sea Island, 2^nd)–“I thought she ran a good race. There wasn’t any pace and she made a good run at her. I thought maybe we were going to get her at the head of the stretch, but it’s a pretty nice filly that won.”

Javier Castellano (jockey, Sea Island, 2^nd)– “I liked the way she ran, but unfortunately we were second best today. She put in a good effort and I was satisfied with the way she did it.”

About Pimlico Race Course

Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.