Ben P. Walden, Jr., owner of Pauls Mill, announced June 7 that Summer Bird will enter stud in 2011 at his farm near Versailles, Ky. Drs. K. K. and Devi Jayaraman, who bred and campaigned the colt, will retain a major ownership interest.
Summer Bird received an Eclipse Award as 2009 United States champion 3-year-old male. In consecutive order, the son of Birdstone won the 2009 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), was second to eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational (gr. I), and scored in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I). He retired with a record of 4-1-1 from nine starts and $2,323,040.
“You’d have to look long and hard to find a classic winner whose first three sires are classic winners and whose first three dams are by classic winners,” Walden said in a release. “Summer Bird is an unqualified talent with an outstanding physique. He is truly a great American dirt horse.”
Out of the Summer Squall mare Hong Kong Squall, Summer Bird is also from the family of prominent freshman sire Tapit .
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest in Summer Bird from Kentucky and overseas," said K.K. Jayaraman. "Ben and I have a long-standing relationship, and I’ve always been impressed with his ability to market stallions. It was important for us to remain a part of Summer Bird’s stud career.”
Summer Bird, who is currently being syndicated, will stand alongside Artie Schiller , Bellamy Road , and U S Ranger at Pauls Mill. A stud fee will be announced at a later date.
