by Myra Lewyn

Monticule Farm’s homebred Prussian eagerly pursued dueling pacesetters Brickyard Crossing and Fatal Bullet before shaking free entering the stretch and scoring handily in the $244,152 Summer Stakes (Can-G3) for two-year-olds on Sunday at Woodbine.

The Danzig colt, sent off as the 1-to-2 favorite in the nine-horse field, captured his second race in as many starts as he easily held back Briarwood Circle by 1¼ lengths while completing one mile in 1:35.26 on firm turf.

Your Round closed gamely from sixth in early stretch to finish another 1 ¼ lengths back in third.

Prussian entered the Summer Stakes off a visually impressive 6 ¾-length win in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on turf in his career debut on August 17 at Saratoga Race Course.

Under a tight hold from Kent Desormeaux, Prussian was a willing contender on Sunday as he raced in third, less than a half-length behind Brickyard Crossing and Fatal Bullet, who dueled through the first quarter-mile in :23.06. As Fatal Bullet yielded on the turn, Prussian took aim on Brickyard Crossing, put him away in early stretch, and continued on for the comfortable victory.

“He was very eager early,” Desormeaux said of Prussian. “He managed to settle. I kept him well away from the field down the backside. That helped him out tremendously. When I pulled him closer, next to the horse going into the turn, he really jumped into the bridle. It took a little bit of effort to make him wait, but when I let him go, there was a tremendous turn of foot.”

Trainer Bill Mott is pointing Prussian to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Monmouth Park on October 26.

“I think that would be the most logical place for him to go,” Mott said. “Obviously, he’s still learning. As Kent said, he was a little anxious and jumped into the bridle maybe a little too early. The good part is, he has good tactical speed and he breaks well. For a course like Monmouth Park, that would be beneficial”

Kentucky-bred Prussian is out of the Group 1-placed winning Alleged mare Crystal Downs, a half sister to multiple Group 2-winning stayer Mubtaker.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor