By Christie DeBernardis
Woodbine's GII Summer S. is one of the few turf stakes that Wesley Ward has not won and he looks to change that Sunday with undefeated morning-line favorite Hemp Hemp Hurray (Artie Schiller). Graduating by four lengths in his Belmont unveiling July 9, the Ken and Sarah Ramsey runner romped by 7 1/4 lengths in Monmouth's Tyro S. next out Aug. 6 and tries a mile for the first time in this “Win and You're In” event in an attempt to secure a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf starting gate.
Graham Motion saddles “TDN Rising Star” Untamed Domain (Animal Kingdom) off a third-place effort in Saratoga's GIII With Anticipation S. Aug. 30. Fourth on debut sprinting at Laurel, the bay proved to be more of a router with an impressive victory going 1 1/16 miles at the Spa July 22. Click here for Steve Sherack's feature on Motion and Untamed Domain.
Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out another live runner in El Dulce (Twirling Candy), a debut winner at Saratoga July 29 who checked in second in a muddy off-the-turf renewal of that venue's Skidmore S. Aug. 18.
A number of debut winners take a big step up here, including Woodbine-based Admiralty Pier (English Channel), who wired the field for a 4 3/4-length success on the local lawn Aug. 6. Fellow local hopeful Count Alexander, a son of the red hot international sire Scat Daddy, earned his diploma by fourth lengths going six panels over this course Aug. 27. Click here for a feature on Count Alexander's connections by Editor-in-Chief Jessica Martini.
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