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Sires Who Showed Stamina Deliver in Belmont

Just looking at recent history, eight of the previous dozen Belmont Stakes winners were by sires who won grade I races at 1 1/4 miles or longer, including three winners by previous Belmont Stakes winners.

Tale of the Cat Yearling Tops OBS Finale

A yearling filly by Tale of the Cat was sold to Bill Fleming for $57,000 Jan. 16 to top the open session of Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s 2013 winter mixed sale.

Summer Bird Sold, to Stand in Japan

Summer Bird, a three-time grade I winner and champion 3-year-old of 2009, has been purchased by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association and will take up stud duty in Japan, WinStar Farm announced Nov. 13.

First Foal Reported for Champion Summer Bird

Three-time grade I winner and champion 3-year-old Summer Bird sired his first reported foal Jan. 26 when a colt was born at Fred Hertrich's Watercress Farm in Paris, Ky.

WinStar Sets 2012 Fees for Expanded Roster

WinStar Farm announced 2012 fees for its expanded roster of stallions, led by North America's leading sire Distorted Humor, who will stand for $100,000 (stands and nurses) and will breed an exclusive book of 100 mares.

F-T Fall Sale Offering More Quality Yearlings

The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale's reputation has improved dramatically in recent years.

WinStar Acquires Pauls Mill Stallions

WinStar Farm has acquired an interest in all four stallions -- Bellamy Road, Summer Bird, Artie Schiller, and U S Ranger -- from Pauls Mill and will relocate them to their Versailles, Ky. farm for the 2012 breeding season.

Mr. Prospector's Dominance in the Belmont

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
In no race is the blend of speed with stamina more important than in the Belmont. Mr. Prospector contributed the right stuff to produce descendants capable of dominating the 'Test of the Champion'.

First Mare in Foal to Summer Bird

Three-time grade I winner and 2009 champion 3-year-old male Summer Bird had his first confirmed in-foal mare since entering his initial season at stud at Mr. & Mrs. Ben P. Walden Jr.'s Pauls Mill Farm in Versailles.

Slideshow: New Sires of 2011

A visual look at some of the top new stallions for 2011, including Blame, Quality Road, Lookin At Lucky, and more.

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Summer Bird to Stand for $15,000

Summer Bird, the 2009 champion 3-year-old male, will begin his stallion career for $15,000 in 2011 at Ben P. Walden Jr.'s Pauls Mill near Versailles, Ky.

Oaklawn Park Announces $4.6 Million in Stakes

Oaklawn Park has announced a 32-stakes program totaling $4.6 million for the 56-day meet that begins Jan. 14, 2011.

Summer Bird in Paradise at Paul's Mill

Esther Marr visits with Summer Bird at Paul's Mill.

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Summer Bird Fills Pauls Mill Stud Barn

Shining like a copper penny, Summer Bird officially moved into the last open stall in Paul Mill's stud barn.

Summer Bird to Stand at Pauls Mill

Ben P. Walden, Jr., owner of Pauls Mill Farm, announced June 7 that Summer Bird will enter stud in 2011 at his farm near Versailles, Ky.

Champion Summer Bird Retired

Summer Bird, unable to make it back from a fracture suffered while training for the Japan Cup Dirt, has been retired.

Grening, Fortus Win Joe Hirsch Writing Award

David Grening of Daily Racing Form and Bob Fortus of The Times-Picayune in New Orleans earned top honors as the New York Racing Association announced the winners of the inaugural Joe Hirsch Memorial Writing Contest.

Summer Bird Almost Ready to Take Flight

The champion 3-year-old male from 2009 has been galloping regularly at Delaware Park and is only a couple of weeks from recording his first breeze of the season, Tim Ritchey said May 15

Sweet Life is KY Broodmare of the Year

Sweet Life, a daughter of Kris S. who is the dam of champion Sweet Catomine and grade I winner Life Is Sweet, was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.

Jayaramans Remove 25 Horses From Ice Barn

Summer Bird, last year's champion 3-year-old male, is one of 25 horses being transferred from trainer Tim Ice by Drs. K.K. Jayaraman and Vilasini Jayaraman. Ice currently is based at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

Summer Bird on the Mend at Oaklawn

Summer Bird, who received the Eclipse Award as the top 3-year-old male earlier in the week, was back in his stall Jan. 22 after a walk and being spoiled by his owners, Drs. K. K. and Vilasini Jayaraman.

2009 Eclipse Awards

Recap all of the Eclipse Award winners with this photo slideshow featuring photos from throughout the 2009 racing season.

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Champion 3YO Male: Summer Bird

Jayaraman's colt won grade I Belmont, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

NYRA 'Story of the Year' Voting Now Underway

Beginning Dec. 11 and through Jan. 15, 2010, fans can choose from among five compelling storylines some human, some equine and cast their ballots for NYRA "Story of the Year."

Successful Surgery For Summer Bird

Summer Bird, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Travers (gr. I), and Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), underwent successful surgery to repair a nondisplaced fracture of his right fore cannon bone Dec. 5 and is expected to return to racing next year.

Summer Bird Hurt; Out of Japan Cup Dirt

Summer Bird, winner of the grade I Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup, was withdrawn from the Dec. 6 Japan Cup Dirt after suffering an injury in a workout.

Summer Bird to run in the Japan Cup Dirt

Summer Bird, the leading contender for champion 3-year-old male, will run in the 1 1/8-mile Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I) at Hanshin.

Zenyatta Reclaims Top Spot in Poll by a Nose

Zenyatta reclaimed the top spot in the final National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll of 2009.

Ice Plans to Move Stable to New York

Tim Ice, trainer of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, will shift his stable from Louisiana to New York following the end of the Oaklawn Park meet next spring, he said Nov. 2.

Zenyatta is 5-2 Favorite in the Classic

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss' Zenyatta, undefeated in 13 career starts, was installed as the 5-2 favorite when she takes on males for the first time in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). She is attempting to be the first female to the win the World Championship's marquee event.

Rip Van Winkle Fighting Another Foot Injury

Coolmore and trainer Aidan O'Brien took a chance by entering only Rip Van Winkle in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), despite the colt's history of foot problems, and now they could wind up without a horse in the race if Rip's most recent setback proves serious enough to force his withdrawal.

'Pretty Much Perfect' Work for Derby Winner

In what trainer Chip Woolley labeled "pretty much perfect," Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Santa Anita Nov. 2 in preparation for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

Classic Offers Tough Handicapping Challenge

A hodgepodge of horses from all walks of life will converge on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride Nov. 7, most of whom would not be a surprise should they win.

Zenyatta Would Be Favored in BC Classic

If Zenyatta's connections opt to run her in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), she will be the favorite on the official Breeders' Cup morning line.

Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Colonel

Perhaps the best method of handicapping this year's perplexing Breeders' Cup Classic is to make a checklist comprising every major handicapping category that pertains to the race and see who qualifies in the most categories.

Summer Bird Works Between Races at Oak Tree

Three-time grade I winner Summer Bird, the leading candidate for an Eclipse Award in the male 3-year-old division, worked five furlongs in 1:00.45 under regular rider Kent Desormeaux after Oak Tree's second race Oct. 25.

Summer Bird Has First Work at Santa Anita

Summer Bird, winner of the grade I Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup, had his first work over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface, breezing five furlongs in 1:02 in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

Countdown to the Cup: Beyond the Sea...a Bird

If Sea the Stars does not make the trip to California, which seems more likely than not, and joins Rachel Alexandra on the absentee list, it will create a void never before seen in the Breeders' Cup.

Summer Bird Doing Well, Breeders' Cup Next

Tim Ice said again that he would nominate Summer Bird to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), as well as the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I), both at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 7. He was confident about Summer Bird's ability to handle either surface, but said the Classic was the more likely choice.

Summer Bird Does it Again, Wins JCGC

Summer Bird continued his meteoric rise to the top of the Thoroughbred ranks, as he turned back fellow 3-year-old Quality Road to win the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) by a length Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

JCGC: Will Summer Bird Soar Again?

Though his racing career began just seven months ago, Summer Bird has accomplished extraordinary things in a short period of time. The Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Shadwell Travers (gr. I) winner will try to defy the odds once again when he faces older horses for the first time in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Horses Prepare for Belmont's Super Saturday

A trio of contenders for the Oct. 3 $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) had their final tune-ups for the 1 1/4-mile race on a busy morning at Belmont Park Sept. 26.

Quality Road Works Toward Gold Cup

The son of Elusive Quality worked five furlongs in 1:01.14 in preparation for his next start Oct. 3 in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I).

Summer Bird Posts 'A-Plus' Work for Gold Cup

Belmont Stakes and Shadwell Travers (both gr. I) winner Summer Bird left his connections with wide smiles the morning of Sept. 19 after a solid workout for the 3-year-old's next engagement, the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Countdown to the Cup: Big Chasm between A-Z

It's time to accept the fact that Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are not going to meet. As the cliche goes, that ship has sailed.

Talkin' Horses Podcast with Trainer Tim Ice

Trainer Tim Ice answers questions about Summer Bird, winner of the Belmont Stakes and the Travers, and much more.

Countdown to the Cup: Bird Bath

Summer Bird secured his place atop the 3-year-old male division with his resounding victory in the slop in the $1-million Shadwell Travers Stakes.

Ice Mulls Options for Belmont/Travers Winner

Enjoying the attention a day after Summer Bird's decisive 3 1/2-length win in the Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 29, trainer Tim Ice was entertaining the possibility of reaching his ultimate goal, the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), without a race over Santa Anita's synthetic track.

Summer Bird Takes Flight in Travers Victory

Summer Bird continued his meteoric rise to the top of the nation's 3-year-old ranks, as he rolled through the slop for an easy 3 1/2-length score in the $1-million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.

Weather Could Be a Big Factor in Travers

With more than an inch of rain in the forecast overnight and into tomorrow, an off-track appears likely for the $1-million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.