Tim Ice, Summer Bird dynamic duo

Don't forget ntamm that Summer Bird was ahead of Mine That Bird in the Derby. The blinkers only helped him focus more, not necessarily sit closer. They were all bunched up on the far turn, the fractions are a mirage given the speed of the Belmont strip. Not to mention Summer Bird saved all sorts of ground too.

Why isn't Summer Bird going for the Eclipse Award? And what has Musket Man done for you to say unequivocally that he'll pound Summer Bird? Summer Bird is much more of a player for the Eclipse Award than Musket Man right now. I also don't know why they'll run him in the (Un)Super Derby given that it's only three weeks after the Travers. No reason to bring the horse back that quickly and have such a big gap to the BC.

Summer Bird is a nice horse that needs a big pace to be a factor. Given that other than a maiden win, his other win (Belmont) was at a mile and a half, he is largely unproven at the 9 furlong distance. Over a speed-favoring Monmouth trip, I can think of a few 3yo's that beat Summer Bird as long as they don't go :46 flat for the half: - Rachel Alexandra - Mine That Bird - Musket Man - Papa Clem - Pioneerof The Nile - Dunkirk (if he was still around) - Quality Road - And others that will develop...

Summer Bird's Beyer in the Belmont was a 100. Yikes. What was Da Taras? 99? Yikes again. He sucked-up a victory against a horse who had a broken back leg and one who started making his move seven furlongs out. Simply put, if Mine that Bird starts moving two furlongs later we're talking about a Summer Bird who finished second, not first. I think bband's point was that he won't be able to beat those horses in the Haskell given usual Haskell circumstances which axes out his potential for the Eclipse Award.

Pioneerof the Nile? Uh, ok. Mine That Bird? You mean to tell me that the fleet-footed Mine That Bird has a better chance at Monmouth than Summer Bird? They have a very similar running style and Summer Bird was much more interested early with the addition of blinkers in the Belmont. Dunkirk? The horse who he's beaten handily twice...not so much Musket Man? Game performer but 3rd place finishes don't get you into the conversation. The whole point of my original comment was because you said Summer Bird going for the Eclipse Award was a joke. He is ahead of everyone you listed with the exception of Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra and no one is ahead of those two. He has a great deal of potential, without question.

OK... first credit goes out to Tim Ice for a great training job with Summer Bird, and to the owners as the Jayaraman's have been in racing for a long time so it is nice to see them get a big win. However, the idea that Summer Bird is now going for the Eclipse Award is a bit of a joke. He won the Belmont with a late run at a mile and a half against a depleted field. This guy would be lucky to win either the Haskell or the Travers, much less the BC. Once he gets pounded by Musket Man and others in the Haskell... maybe they will figure it's best to stay home in the Super Derby!