What a Summer (USA)
March 27, 1973 – c. 1998
What Luck (USA) x Summer Classic (USA), by Summer Tan (USA)
Family 17-b
March 27, 1973 – c. 1998
What Luck (USA) x Summer Classic (USA), by Summer Tan (USA)
Family 17-b
A scion of a family better known for classic stamina than for flat-out speed, What a Summer possessed the stamina to be effective over intermediate distances but drew on the brilliance passed down from her sire’s line to become a champion in the sprint ranks. She produced one good racer, Grade 3 winner Gather the Clan, who proved to be a good broodmare as well.
Race record
31 starts, 18 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$479,161
1976:
1977:
1978:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1976, 16 pounds below champion Revidere.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1977, 4 pound above second-rated Full Out.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1978, 4 pounds below American co-champion sprinter J. O. Tobin. (The other official co-champion sprinter, Dr. Patches, was rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1977.)
As an individual
A gray mare, What a Summer was strongly made and a good weight carrier.
As a producer
What a Summer produced nine foals, of which all started and eight won. Her only foal of signficance is Gather the Clan (by General Assembly) winner of the 1989 Violet Handicap (USA-G3). Gather the Clan is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Pure Clan (by Pure Prize; dam of stakes winner Princesa Carolina, by Tapit) and 2004 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2) winner Greater Good (by Intidab). She is also the second dam of 2008 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sky Diva and the third dam of 2018 Madison Stakes (USA-G1) winner Finley’sluckycharm and Grade 3 winner Shotgun Hottie.
Connections
Foaled at Polinger Farm in Maryland, What a Summer was bred and owned by Milton Polinger. She was trained by Grover "Bud" Delp. Following Polinger's death in the fall of 1976, What a Summer was auctioned off at Hialeah in January 1977 and was purchased by Diana Firestone for US$275,000. At that time, she was transferred to the barn of LeRoy Jolley. Following Polinger's deathin the fall of 1976, What a Summer was auctioned off at Hialeah in January 1977 and purchased by Diana Firestone for $275,000. Sometime following the birth of her 1988 foal, Lake Summer, What a Summer was sold to H and Y Bloodstock Company, for which she produced her next three foals. In 1998, she produced her last foal, Eaglerider (by Eagle Eyed) for James Moloney and afterward disappears from the produce records.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Bold Ruler horse What Luck (a full brother to 1964 American champion 2-year-old filly Queen Empress and 1968 Pimlico-Laurel Futurity winner King Emperor), What a Summer is outcrossed through five generations. She is the only foal of importance produced from Summer Classic, a full sister to 1963 Chicagoan Stakes winner B. Major and a half sister to stakes-placed Lincoln Center (by Royal Gem II), dam of multiple stakes winner Center Circle (by Olden Times). Summer Classic is also a half sister to Tympanist (by Tompion), dam of 1974 Anoakia Stakes (USA-G3) winner Sweet Old Girl (by Olden Times) and third dam of 2002 Gran Premio General San Martín (ARG-G1) winner Climay. In addition, Summer Classic is a half sister to Classicist (by Princequillo), dam of 1977 Saul Silberman Handicap (USA-G3) winner Proponent (by Gallant Man) and of stakes-placed Rajab (by Jaipur), who enjoyed some success as a regional sire in Florida. Classicist is also the second dam of 1986 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Danzig Connection,1985 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Pine Circle, Grade 2 winner Roi Danzig, and Grade 3 winner Oriental. In addition, she is the third dam of Grade 3 winner Ascutney.
Summer Classic and her siblings were produced from the winning Stymie mare Classic Music, a half sister to 1952 Jersey Stakes winner King Jolie (by Platter). Classic Music is also a half sister to Lysistrata (by Palestinian), dam of 1970 French champion 2-year-old filly and 1971 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Bold Fascinator (by Bold Lad; dam of stakes winner Audacious Rullah, by Naskra), 1967 Flamingo Stakes winner Reflected Glory (by Jester), and 1965 Governor’s Gold Cup winner Isle of Greece (by Porterhouse). The next dam in What a Summer’s tail-female line, Jaconda (by Belfonds), is a winning half sister to 1947 Belmont Stakes winner and American champion 3-year-old male Phalanx (by Pilate) and is out of 1937 American champion 2-year-old filly Jacola (by Jacopo), a half sister to 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Johnstown (by Jamestown).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 24, 2024
Race record
31 starts, 18 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$479,161
1976:
- Won Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Anne Arundel Handicap (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Heirloom Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Keystone)
1977:
- Won Maskette Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Fall Highweight Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Distaff Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Silver Spoon Handicap (USA, 6.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Regret Handicap (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Grey Flight Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
1978:
- Won Fall Highweight Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Silver Spoon Handicap (USA, 6.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won First Flight Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Vosburgh Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Vagrancy Handicap (USA-G3, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Suwannee River Handicap (USA-G3, 8FT, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Sport Page Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Egret Handicap (USA, 6FD, The Meadowlands)
Honors
- Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame (inducted in 2020)
- Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (1977)
- Maryland-bred Horse of the Year (1977)
- Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old filly (1976)
- Maryland-bred champion older female (1977, 1978)
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1976, 16 pounds below champion Revidere.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1977, 4 pound above second-rated Full Out.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1978, 4 pounds below American co-champion sprinter J. O. Tobin. (The other official co-champion sprinter, Dr. Patches, was rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1977.)
As an individual
A gray mare, What a Summer was strongly made and a good weight carrier.
As a producer
What a Summer produced nine foals, of which all started and eight won. Her only foal of signficance is Gather the Clan (by General Assembly) winner of the 1989 Violet Handicap (USA-G3). Gather the Clan is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Pure Clan (by Pure Prize; dam of stakes winner Princesa Carolina, by Tapit) and 2004 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2) winner Greater Good (by Intidab). She is also the second dam of 2008 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sky Diva and the third dam of 2018 Madison Stakes (USA-G1) winner Finley’sluckycharm and Grade 3 winner Shotgun Hottie.
Connections
Foaled at Polinger Farm in Maryland, What a Summer was bred and owned by Milton Polinger. She was trained by Grover "Bud" Delp. Following Polinger's death in the fall of 1976, What a Summer was auctioned off at Hialeah in January 1977 and was purchased by Diana Firestone for US$275,000. At that time, she was transferred to the barn of LeRoy Jolley. Following Polinger's deathin the fall of 1976, What a Summer was auctioned off at Hialeah in January 1977 and purchased by Diana Firestone for $275,000. Sometime following the birth of her 1988 foal, Lake Summer, What a Summer was sold to H and Y Bloodstock Company, for which she produced her next three foals. In 1998, she produced her last foal, Eaglerider (by Eagle Eyed) for James Moloney and afterward disappears from the produce records.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Bold Ruler horse What Luck (a full brother to 1964 American champion 2-year-old filly Queen Empress and 1968 Pimlico-Laurel Futurity winner King Emperor), What a Summer is outcrossed through five generations. She is the only foal of importance produced from Summer Classic, a full sister to 1963 Chicagoan Stakes winner B. Major and a half sister to stakes-placed Lincoln Center (by Royal Gem II), dam of multiple stakes winner Center Circle (by Olden Times). Summer Classic is also a half sister to Tympanist (by Tompion), dam of 1974 Anoakia Stakes (USA-G3) winner Sweet Old Girl (by Olden Times) and third dam of 2002 Gran Premio General San Martín (ARG-G1) winner Climay. In addition, Summer Classic is a half sister to Classicist (by Princequillo), dam of 1977 Saul Silberman Handicap (USA-G3) winner Proponent (by Gallant Man) and of stakes-placed Rajab (by Jaipur), who enjoyed some success as a regional sire in Florida. Classicist is also the second dam of 1986 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Danzig Connection,1985 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Pine Circle, Grade 2 winner Roi Danzig, and Grade 3 winner Oriental. In addition, she is the third dam of Grade 3 winner Ascutney.
Summer Classic and her siblings were produced from the winning Stymie mare Classic Music, a half sister to 1952 Jersey Stakes winner King Jolie (by Platter). Classic Music is also a half sister to Lysistrata (by Palestinian), dam of 1970 French champion 2-year-old filly and 1971 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Bold Fascinator (by Bold Lad; dam of stakes winner Audacious Rullah, by Naskra), 1967 Flamingo Stakes winner Reflected Glory (by Jester), and 1965 Governor’s Gold Cup winner Isle of Greece (by Porterhouse). The next dam in What a Summer’s tail-female line, Jaconda (by Belfonds), is a winning half sister to 1947 Belmont Stakes winner and American champion 3-year-old male Phalanx (by Pilate) and is out of 1937 American champion 2-year-old filly Jacola (by Jacopo), a half sister to 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Johnstown (by Jamestown).
Fun facts
- What a Summer became the namesake for a sprint stakes race for fillies and mares at Laurel Park.
Last updated: September 24, 2024