Summer Squall

Summer Squall was foaled in 1987 by Storm Bird, out of Weekend Surprise (Secretariat). He went undefeated in five starts that included the Hopeful Stakes, Saratoga Special Stakes, and Bashford Manor Stakes as a two-year-old before forming a big rivalry with Unbridled at 3. The two went head to head 6 times, with Summer Squall coming out on top in four of the races, including the Blue Grass Stakes.

The Triple Crown came around that year and like most top 3-year-old colts, Summer Squall was pointed for it. He made a move from the pack around the final turn, but Unbridled came with him and pulled away for the win. In the 1990 Preakness, Summer Squall pulled away by 2 1/2 lengths to beat Unbridled. He did not go to the Belmont because Lasix was still banned in New York at that time. Besides the Preakness Stakes, Summer Squall won the Jim Beam Stakes, Pennsylvania Derby, and Kentucky Breeders' Cup Stakes at three.

Summer Squall returned for his four-year-old season, defeating Unbridled in the Fayette Handicap before finishing second in both the Washington Park Handicap and Pimlico Special. He ended his career with a record of 20 starts, 13 wins, and 4 seconds, and earnings of over $1.8 million.

Summer Squall was a ridgling, but that didn't stop him for a top-notch career at stud. He sired 37 stakes winners. The best known of these is Charismatic, 1999 Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year Old Male the same year of his Kentucky Derby and Preakness wins before coming up short and finishing third in the Belmont. He also sired Storm Song, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and 1996 champion 2-year old filly; G1 winning Summer Colony; and Summerly, winner of the 2005 Kentucky Oaks. He was also the damsire of Stevie Wonderboy and Summer Bird.

Summer Squall stood at Lane's End Farm all his life and was pensioned in 2004 because of fertility issues. The 22-year-old stallion was euthanized September 22nd because of complications of the infirmities of old age and founder.