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Summer Bird
Summer Bird (2009 Haskell Invitational post parade)
Sire	Birdstone
Grandsire	Grindstone
Dam	Hong Kong Squall
Damsire	Summer Squall
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	2006
Country	United States
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Drs. Kalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman
Owner	Drs. Kalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman
Trainer	1) Tim A. Ice 2) Timothy F. Ritchey
Record	8:4-1-1
Earnings	$1,573,040
Major wins
Travers Stakes (2009) Jockey Club Gold Cup (2009) American Classic Race wins: Belmont Stakes (2009)
Awards
American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (2009)

Summer Bird (foaled April 7, 2006 in Kentucky) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone. He was bred by retired cardiologist Kalarikkal Jayaraman and his wife, retired pathologist Vilasini Jayaraman, at their Tiffany Farm near Ocala, Florida. On June 3rd 2010, it was announced that Summer Bird would be retired due to complications of a previous injury, he will stand at Pauls Mill Farm near Versailles, Ky.

Belmont Stakes

Raced by his breeders, Summer Bird won the 2009 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown, in which Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness Stakes runner-up Mine That Bird was favored. The win was the second of his five start career, and followed a third in the Arkansas Derby and a sixth in the Kentucky Derby. After the Belmont he was sent to Monmouth Park, New Jersey to prep for the Haskell Invitational. When champion female Rachel Alexandra was also entered, his connections did not back down and he finished a solid second to the rising star, verifying his win in the Belmont.

Travers Stakes

Summer Bird was then taken to Saratoga Race Course to compete in the prestigious Travers Stakes. The colt's handlers still kept him in when Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was also entered and they stayed in when Rachel Alexandra was a possible contender. Both horses were taken out of the race, Mine That Bird because of throat surgery and Rachel Alexandra being entered in the Woodward Stakes against older males the week after the Travers including Quality Road, a horse that had been the favorite for the Kentucky Derby in April but had been taken out of the race and been on a lay off. Summer Bird took the lead in the Travers Stakes over Kensei at the quarter pole and never looked back, holding off a late closing longshot, Hold Me Back to win and earn his second Grade 1 victory on a sloppy track. Quality Road finished third. Summer Bird then went on to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on October 3, 2009. He was the first horse in over 20 years to win all three prestigious races in New York. He then finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic behind champion mare Zenyatta at Santa Anita Park on November 7, 2009, as the third betting choice at 6-1. He is now being pointed towards the Japan Cup Dirt. Unfortunately, during a recent workout he showed signs of distress and pulled up lame. He did not race in the Japan Cup, due to a condylar fracture in his right foreleg.

On February 9, 2010, owners K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman transferred Summer Bird, along with five other horses, to trainer Tim Ritchey. Summer Bird has been undergoing rehabilition from surgery following a condylar fracture to his right foreleg. Currently at Oaklawn Park, Summer Bird may possibly resume training in mid-March.

Stud Career

Summerbird was retired to stud in 2011 and currently stands at Pauls Mill in Versailles, Kentucky for a fee of $15,000. His first crop of foals (2012) will begin racing in 2014.

Pedigree

Summer Bird joined Mine That Bird as the second foal of Birdstone to win a Triple Crown race, and becomes the second third-generation descendant of Unbridled to do so. On his sire's side, he is also descended from 1964 Triple Crown contender Northern Dancer. His dam, Hong Kong Squall, was sired by Summer Squall, giving Summer Bird relation to 1999 Triple Crown contender Charismatic, and making him a descendant of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. His dam's mother, Hong Kong Jade, gives him descent from 1987 Triple Crown contender Alysheba and, thus, Alydar, the horse that finished second in all three Triple Crown races to Affirmed in 1978. Hong Kong Squall died May 20, 2010, after giving birth to a full sister to Summer Bird.

References

1. Hiers, Fred (June 7, 2009), "Ocala farm's Summer Bird wins Belmont Stakes", Ocala Star-Banner.
2. Rampellini, Mary (February 9, 2010), "Summer Bird now with Tim Ritchey", National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
3. "Summer Bird" (PDF). Bloodhorse Stallion Register. Retrieved 24 April 2011.

External links

• Summer Bird at the NTRA

• 2006 racehorse births
• Racehorses bred in Kentucky
• Northern Dancer bloodline
• Racehorses trained in the United States
• American racehorses
• Belmont Stakes winners
• Eclipse Award winners