SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Summer Bird isn't the other Bird anymore.
The Belmont Stakes winner came charging off the far turn and splashed his way to victory in the $1 million Travers Stakes at rain-soaked Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.
Now that Summer Bird is the only 3-year-old male with two Grade 1 victories, the son of Birdstone almost certainly moves to the head of his class. Of course, Rachel Alexandra is the No. 1 3-year-old filly and leading contender for Horse of the Year.
But Summer Bird, the third-place finisher in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, is the word in the boy's world - ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who missed the Travers as he recovers from throat surgery, and ahead of Quality Road, who finished third in the slop as the 3-2 favorite, 5 lengths behind the winner.
"To me, he is the 3-year-old champion now," winning trainer Tim Ice said. "They can call him the other Bird if they want, but he's won the Belmont and the Travers. Take it from there."
Like father, like son, too.
In completing the Belmont-Travers double, Summer Bird joins his sire, Birdstone, who did it in 2004. Summer Bird is the 30th horse to win both races.
"Winning this race means as much as winning the Belmont," Ice said. "For my colt to win the Belmont and come back and win the Travers like his sire means a lot."
A crowd of 34,221 braved showers all day for the biggest racing card of the six-week season, capped by the 1/4-mile Midsummer Derby.
Summer Bird, with Kent Desormeaux aboard, came into the race off a runner-up finish to Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2. For two weeks, Ice had been saying his colt was ready for a big race, and he surely delivered.
Quality Road, who would have been the Derby favorite before he was sidelined with hoof issues, won the Amsterdam Stakes earlier in the month in his return. But he wasn't quite ready for the Travers: He bucked jockey John Velazquez off before entering the starting gate, was squeezed between horses at the start and finished third in the seven-horse field.
Summer Bird returned $6.80, $4.30 and $2.70 as the second betting choice at nearly 3-1, while Hold Me Back $12.40 and $5.30. Quality Road paid $2.50.
On the undercard:
Capt. Candyman Can was declared the winner of the $300,000 King's Bishop Stakes after first-place finisher Vineyard Haven was disqualified by the stewards for interference in the stretch. Vineyard Haven, ridden by Alan Garcia, bumped Capt. Candyman Can several times as they dueled for the lead.
Music Note ($13.60) out-dueled Indian Blessing in the stretch and splashed her way to a 5 1 /4-length victory in the $300,000 Ballerina Stakes for older fillies and mares. Informed Decision, who had a five-race winning streak, was third.
Salve Germania ($50.50), the longest shot in the field at 24-1, finished with a rush and nipped 9-5 favorite Rutherinne by a nose to win the $200,000 Balston Spa on a soft turf course.
Sara Louise ($6.30), the last horse to defeat Rachel Alexandra, made her 3-year-old debut with a 2-length victory over Bold Union in the 6-furlong, $110,000 Victory Ride Stakes.
CALDER RACE COURSE Long shot wins
MIAMI - Long shot Rosebud's Ridge held off the favorite Sweetlalabye to win the $150,000 Susan's Girl stakes race at Calder on Saturday.
The winner, ridden by Ceceilio Penalba paid $37.40, 12.80, and 6.80. Sweetlalabye, the 9-5 choice, paid 3.60 and 2.40. Winsockie paid 3.20 to show.
Sports, Pages 31 on 08/30/2009