Summer Squall Faces Stormy Race at Meadowlands

What’s good for racing isn’t always good for trainer Neil Howard and Preakness winner Summer Squall.

Such is the case in the Meadowlands Cup on Friday night.

Howard wanted and expected an easy race for Summer Squall in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. His logic was flawless. Nobody would put his horse--that is, a good horse--into the $500,000 race at the Meadowlands with the Breeders’ Cup just two weeks away.

On the other hand, Howard had to enter Summer Squall in the race. The 3-year-old colt had been forced to scratch from the Louisiana Derby on Sept. 23 because of a fever and needed the work.

“I didn’t think it would be this tough a race,” Howard said after a field of 11 was entered in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. “It’s one of the best all season. Good for racing. Bad for me.”

The biggest concerns for Howard appear to be Beau Genius, who stretched his winning streak to six in capturing the Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park in August, and Opening Verse, the talented 4-year-old who has turned in two game efforts against the highly regarded Criminal Type this year.

This will also be Summer Squall’s first race against older horses. His last race was on Sept. 3 in the Pennsylvania Derby and the colt overcame traffic problems and a bump to win by 3 3/4 lengths.

Summer Squall has four wins and two seconds in six starts this year and earnings of $1,222,356.

Howard refused to stamp his colt as the leading contender for the 3-year-old Eclipse award.

“He’s a contender,” Howard said. “I think I might have had another answer if he had won the Super Derby. If we had won I might have had a stronger opinion. But I always bet against myself.”

The oddsmakers disagreed with Howard for the Meadowlands Cup, establishing Summer Squall as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The colt drew the No. 8 post position and will carry 119 pounds.

Beau Genius, 122, was made the 3-1 second choice.

The rest of the field includes Bill E. Shears, Great Normand, Mi Selecto, Silver Survivor, Norquestor, Senator To Be, Slavic and Tricky Creek. Bill E. Shears and Norquestor will race as an entry.