What A Summer Stakes
Introduction The '''What A Summer Stakes''' is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in January at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. The race is open to fillies and mares four years old and up and is run at six furlongs on the dirt.An ungraded stakes race, it offers a purse of $100,000.The race was restricted to Maryland-breds between 1978 and 1992.It was run for fillies and mares from age three and up from 1978 through 1985 and was run under handicap conditions during that same time. The race was restricted to two-year-olds from 1985 to 1992.The race was named in honor of What A Summer, a gray mare by What Luck. She was an Eclipse Award winner and was named American Champion Sprint Horse in 1977.She was bred in Maryland by Milton Polinger. What A Summer was a foal in 1973 and won 18 of 31 starts in her career. She won the de facto second leg of the filly Triple Crown, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes,  won the Fall Highweight Handicap twice (carrying 134 pounds each time), the Silver Spoon Handicap twice, the Maskette Handicap and four other stakes. In addition to her 18 wins, she  placed nine times with earnings of $479,161.That record of 27 first or second finishes in 31 starts at 87% is among the best in history.What A Summer was trained by Bud Delp while racing for Polinger. She was bought by Diana Firestone following Polinger's death in 1976.Mrs. Firestone turned the mare over to trainer LeRoy Jolley. She was named Maryland-bred horse of the year in 1977 and twice was named champion older mare. What A Summer was retired in 1878 and as a broodmare produced several graded stakes winners.A venue of 1994 race was Gulfstream Park.
Records '''Speed record: '''* 6 furlongs – 1:09.20 – Xtra Heat   (2003) * 7 furlongs – 1:23.60 – Sea Siren   (1983)'''Most wins by an horse:'''* 2 – Silmaril    (2006 & 2007)* 2 – Sweet on Smokey    (2016 & 2017)'''Most wins by an owner:'''* 3 – Stephen E. Quick   (1982, 2007 & 2008)'''Most wins by a jockey:'''* 2 – five different jockeys share this record with 2 wins each'''Most wins by a trainer:'''* 3 – Christopher W. Grove    (2007, 2008 & 2010)
Winners of the What A Summer Stakes since 1978  Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Gross Amount2021 Hello Beautiful4  Brittany Russell Madaket Stables6 fur.1:10.67$100,0002018 Ms Locust Point4 Jorge Vargas Jr. John Servis Cash is King LLC6 fur.1:09.78$100,0002017 Sweet on Smokey 5 Victor Carrasco Claudio Gonzalez BB Horses’6 fur.1:11.89$100,0002016 Sweet on Smokey 4 Victor Carrasco Claudio Gonzalez Bruno La Banca6 fur.1:11.00$75,0002015 Lady Sabelia 5 Horacio Karamanos Robin Graham Mrs. Frank Wright6 fur.1:12.01$100,0002014 Winning Image7 Anthony Black Micahel C Aro Martin Scafidi6 fur.1:10.37$100,0002013 Bold Affair5 Abel Castellano Howard Wolfendale Cha.Reed & Mike Zanella 6 fur.1:10.61$125,0002012 ''No race''– ''No race'' ''No race'' ''No race''  ''No race''''No race''''No race''2011 Aspenglow5 Travis Dunkelberger Gary Capuano Nancy L. Terhune 6 fur.1:10.21 $75,0002010 Sweet Goodbye 5 J. D. Acosta Christopher W. Grove William R. Harris6 fur.1:11.02 $70,0002009 Access Fee5 Jose Caraballo Larry Murray Sondra Bender6 fur.1:10.31 $60,0002008 Silmaril7 Jeremy Rose Christopher W. Grove Stephen E. Quick 6 fur.1:10.20$90,0002007 Silmaril6 Ryan Fogelsonger Christopher W. Grove Stephen E. Quick 6 fur.1:11.00$100,0002006 Flame of Love6 Jozbin Santana Scott A. Lake McCarty Racing6 fur.1:10.36 $60,0002005 Sensibly Chic5 Steve Hamilton Timothy Tullock Jr. Lois S. Nervitt6 fur.1:09.80$50,0002004 Bronze Abe5 Erick Rodriguez Grover G. Delp Samuel Bayard6 fur.1:10.40  $75,0002003 Xtra Heat5 Rick Wilson John Salzman Kenneth Taylor6 fur.1:09.20$60,0002002 Outstanding Info4 Jose Caraballo Frank Generazio Jr. Patricia Generazio6 fur.1:10.20$50,0002001 Doc Calls Her Kate4 Roberto Alvarado Jr. Anthony Correnti Rhodyo Stable, Inc.6 fur.1:11.40$60,0002000      1999      1998      1997      1996      1995      1994 Swift and Classy2 John C. Kimmel Jerry D. Bailey Mutuel Share Stable6 fur.1:10.36$51,950 1993     1992 Carnirainbow2 Greg Hutton John J. Robb Hal C. B. Clagett7 fur.1:26.80 $60,0001991 Set to Fly2 Rick Wilson Ben W. Perkins Jr. Richard L. Golden7 fur.1:25.40 $75,0001990 Gala Goldilocks2 Greg McCarron Bernard P. Bond Skip Leviton7 fur.1:23.80 $75,0001989 Valay Maid2 Jorge Duarte Carlos A. Garcia Ginny Wright7 fur.1:25.80 $75,0001988 Hard Headed Woman2 Mario Pino  Robert Summers7 fur.1:25.00 $75,0001987 Sham Say2 Ben Feliciano  Eugene Ford Sr.7 fur.1:24.60 $65,0001986 Wainee Church2 Donnie A. Miller Jr.  7 fur.1:26.20 $36,5001985 Gala de Oro2 Ben Feliciano  7 fur.1:24.40 $40,5001984 Artful Girl5 Paul Nicol Jr.  6 fur.1:11.80 $16,5001983 Sea Siren5 Vincent Bracciale Jr.  7 fur.1:23.60 $30,0001982 Kattegat's Pride3 Donnie A. Miller Jr.  Stephen E. Quick7 fur.1:24.20 $30,0001981 Privacy3 Carlos Barrera  C. Oliver Goldsmith6 fur.1:12.00 $30,0001980 Denim Gal3 Joe Imparato  Chiquita Farm6 fur.1:12.00 $30,0001979 Silver Ice3 Vincent Bracciale Jr.  C. Oliver Goldsmith6 fur.1:11.00 $30,0001978 Debby's Turn4 Greg McCarron  6 fur.1:10.80 $28,100
See also * What A Summer Stakes top three finishers
References
External links *  Laurel Park website