by Mike Curry

In Summation overhauled game pacesetter Machismo in the stretch and halted a five-race winless stretch with a one-length victory in the $98,000 El Conejo Handicap (G3) on Thursday at Santa Anita Park.

Grade 1 winner In Summation won the El Conejo and Palos Verdes (G2) Handicaps to begin last season but did not reach the winner’s circle again in 2008. He raced competitively during the losing skid, finishing second in the Bing Crosby Handicap (G1) on July 27 at Del Mar and third in the Ancient Title Stakes (G1) on September 27 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

The six-year-old Put It Back horse entered off a fourth-place finish in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting for trainer Christophe Clement and owner Waterford Farm.

Sent off as the 6-to-5 favorite in the four-horse field, In Summation was reserved at the back of the El Conejo field by jockey Rafael Bejarano as Machismo dueled with Grade 1 winner Johnny Eves through a blistering opening quarter in :21.25 in the 5 1/2-furlong race for four-year-olds and older.

Johnny Eves gave way approaching the stretch while Black Seventeen, winner of the 2008 Vosburgh Stakes (G1), accelerated into contention from the outside. In Summation launched a sweeping bid on the turn and steadily closed in on Machismo and Black Seventeen in the stretch.

Black Seventeen led briefly but weakened in the final furlong as In Summation steadily reeled in Machismo for a clear win in 1:02.58 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface.

“It’s good to be back on this horse,” said Bejarano, who guided In Summation to a win in the 2008 Palos Verdes. “We sat behind the speed, and he was full of run at the top of the stretch. He gave me a big kick, but when he made the lead, he tried to pull himself up a little bit. I got after him a little bit and he kept going.”

Runner-up Machismo, who was making his graded stakes debut, finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of Black Seventeen.

Winner of the 2007 Bing Crosby Handicap (G1), In Summation improved to 11 wins in 27 starts and boosted his earnings to $1,175,166. He is out of the winning Dayjur mare Fiesta Baby.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor