Formal Summation cruised to an easy Laurel Futurity win today. Photo by Laurie Asseo.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
After winning his debut easily on the main track at Gulfstream Park back in July, Formal Summation lugged out and was pulled up a month later on the turf in the Tyro at Monmouth Park.
So what would trainer Kathleen O’Connell get from Formal Summation in Saturday’s $75,000 Laurel Futurity, a 5 ½ furlong sprint taken off the turf and contested on a sloppy track?
A fairly easy winner.
Ridden by Antonio Gallardo, Formal Summation drove away from seven others to win the Futurity by 2 ¾ lengths over Captain Alex. It was another half-length back to favored Thunder Pass in third. Formal Summation, a son of In Summation bred and owned by Lynne Martin-Boutte, covered the distance in 1:06.21.
“We don’t know what happened that last race,” O’Connell said. “He galloped in Miami in his first race, and he has always trained very well. Monmouth has a very sharp first turn so maybe that was it.”
There were no problems negotiating Laurel’s track Saturday. After cruising by the early pacesetter Louise the Laser down the backstretch, Formal Summation opened up nearly six lengths on the field around the turn and entering the stretch and then cruised home.
“I am not sure what is next for him,” O’Connell said. “I don’t expect any problems with him going further. He does everything very well.”
