Summer Bird pointed for The BC
 

As anyone who listened to Steve's interview with Tim Ice yesterday will know Summer Bird will be pointed for the BC this fall on Pro- ride. How about that, a horse and it's connections that won't use the synth angle to duck out of the competition. I propose if Summer Bird wins his next start (most likely the JCGC and wins the BC Classic) he will have earned HOY. For me this is the feel good story of the year, these connections and horse make it very easy for any racing fan to root for them.

If that happens they should get Jeremy Piven for the Chris Rosier role and Kurt Russell for Desormeaux. Peter North could play Tim Ice in a breakthrough performance.

You can certainly make a case and it is very sporting on Ice's part, but I think Rachel controls her own destiny as far as HOY goes. She'll most likely run twice more this year? If she wins both, the Woodward being one of them and perhaps the Beldame being the second, shes a lock to win this award. She already blasted Summer Bird in what will be their only head to head matchup and shares 1 triple crown race win with Summer Bird.

Atleast this may force Jess Jackson to rethink his fall plans, I think SB can force his hand. Winning the Belmont-Travers-JCGC-BC Classic is a very strong case for HOY.

One race at a tiiiiiiiime, sweet Jesus.

its good that hes entering. but i don't think other horses are using the "synth" angle to duck competition. the connections know their horse won't run good on it. take fabulous strike as an example, he ran 5th or 6th in the breeders cup sprint. yet the horse does not lose at 6f on the dirt. why would he enter? to go out there and lose to a horse like fatal bullet. a horse that he drowned three weeks ago. fatal bullet is a horse thats never beaten a horse on dirt in his life. its not an angle the synth surface is a third surface. anyone that can't see the difference is blind. if summer bird runs poorly see how eager they are to come back. i have a feeling these tracks will be thrown out eventually. they were sold as safer, which is a joke.

As I keep reminding people that is only one race, many great horses have been "blasted" once only to redeem themselves later on. Frankly it is a tiresome argument to constantly refer the Haskell as the only and true measuring stick that RA is 10 lengths better than SB. If she shows up at SA in the Classic or Belmont for the JCGC, I suspect alot people will start to see the light.

One thing we do know, the connections are sporting and not scared to showcase their horse anywhere, anytime. Even on a foreign surface.

When he runs a bang up fourth to two Euros and Tiago, will we still be applauding this decision? In any event, Summer Bird was a pretty easy horse to root for like four months ago. Plus, Summer Bird >>>>>> Dunkirk.

The Giants once beat the Pats in the Superbowl, true it is not an easy feat. But it is worth discussion if it can be done(however remote) does he deserve HOY if people can look past the RA sweetheart theme. She's a great filly but objectively he is a very good horse himself who is only getting better.

I'm not saying Summer Bird isnt capable of beating Rachel in a rematch, if one was to take place, but do you really think a rematch will happen? What more does rachel have to prove? If she wins this weekend, she will have dominated 3 year old fillies, 3 year old males (twice) and older males (given a likely romp in the Woodward). The only thing left for her to take on is older fillies and mares. Why on earth would her connections entertain the idea of the Jockey Club when all it would be is a collection of who she has already beaten?

I agree on one point, Jess Jackson will not risk RA's reputation unless a horse can threaten her for HOY. Whether one agrees with the BC format or not, it was designed for determining year end honors and historically more times than not it has.

I also dont think its a given that Summer Bird is just going to win easily again, this time in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. I will take a shot he gets beat by an older horse in this spot.

No it isn't but I really have a good feeling of him at Belmont if the JCGC is his target and it would make the most sense, we know he likes the track and 1 1/4.

He'll have to beat Rachel Alexander.

After the Woodward, the answer to that should be clearer depending on the result. Her campaign after this weekend could get easier or harder.

since the haskell is the only time they'll meet this year, you can't ignore the fact that rachel dominated summer bird that day. speculation about a rematch notwithstanding, facts are facts.
also, altho i think summer bird put on a nice show in the travers, it's far from a given that he wins his next two. good for ice taking him to cali, if that's what they choose to do. given the fact that summer bird usually tends to find his way on a track once he has a few works/gallops, they have to feel some confidence in their approach.
however, one mans treasure is another mans trash. jess jackson has been emphatic about not liking poly, and who is in the position to question his motives? he hasn't exactly taken a safe approach with rachel, as evidenced by two starts vs colts, including a classic win over the derby winner, as well as the second and third place finishers in ky. and now taking on open company in the woodward...if she wins there, it's yet another leg up on the 3 yo competition, who have yet to make the attempt.

Who really do you see in the Woodward that can beat her, beyond herself?

and even then, they'd have one each. summer bird has the lead imo for 3 yo colt-but he has a lot to do to get HOY. and it's far from a given that he wins the bcc-or the jcgc for that matter.

Like they have a choice. Forget about HOY--they could lose could 3YO honors if MTB wins the Classic (seems doubtful right now, but let's see a race first), or if QR wins it after winning his next race. People will, rightly, forgive QR's rush-job Travers very quickly if he moves forward. There is also the matter of a huge purse to be had. In short, it is a freaking business. And their decision is a business decision.

And right now I'd take IP over any 3YO colt, too. Quit getting a boner over this group. It may be the case that the three best dirt horses in the US, routing at least, are all female (can't be really say with certainty about Zenyatta, since her lone dirt appearance was 1.5 years ago). That would be pretty cool.

:rolleyes:

IF and its not a mortal lock IMO.. Rachel wins the Woodward there is absolutely no chance for any horse to win HOY except her. And she's already drowned Summer Bird.

SB could win the Super Derby, JCGC, Goodwood, BCClassic and the Clark and he still wouldnt get HOY if she wins the Woodward.

Granted SB is a huge bet against in the classic but I would give him a shot in the JCGC. He's the frontrunner for 3yo Colt award but there's only one horse even in the running for HOY at this point.

this is freaking crazy? Not risk her reputation? he's only run her in the toughest spots possible. my lord.

For argument's sake:

Significant accomplishments

RA wins:
K. Oaks
Preakness
Haskell

SB:
Belmont win
Haskell placed.
Travers win

With a possible 2 races to go for each is RA's lead really that secure? Objectively speaking...

BTW I didn't include the Mother Goose, I agree she is the top filly for The Eclipse award and she only faced a 3 horse field, however impressive her beyer was. I am concentrating on the HOY discussion part of it.

It's a foregone conclusion that Summer Bird will beat Zenyatta in California. His beyers are higher.

As for Rachel; if she wins the Woodward, it looks like she's done for the year.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...after-woodward

If MTB wins another race on dirt/poly in 09 I'll fall off my chair...I like the horse(after his derby win I was one of the first to say it was not a fluke) but it seems his supporter(s) fail to see he has had more excuses than just about any other horse running today. Which speaks to his need to have many uncontrollable factors to go his way before he can succeed. Does anyone want to bet an underlaid former derby winner? I can think of only one person here who would...

Why are we discussing Summer Bird winning the BC Classic? He is, quite simply, too slow to possibly beat the European horses that will come over on the synthetic. Da Tara is more likely to win the Woodward than Summer Bird is to win the BC Classic.

you just cant throw out her other wins and the margin of victory and the final times which have been spectacular except for the Preakness.. tho it was still okay.

its not even close at this point. like not at all. If voting happened today she'd get every single vote for HOY unless someone had a real crazy agenda. The only way it becomes close is if Rachel loses TWO or more races and Summer bird wins the JCGC and the BC Classic... which he will not win.

FTFY!

I FTFY as well!

I must be slow with the new terminology what is FTFY?

Yeah, no problem. First time someone did the FTFY on me, I thought it was something like "Fugg T---, Fugg You"

It really means though Fixed That For You.

fixed that for you.

Buffalo Wild Wings is introducing a new wings sauce called Zenyatta. It starts off bland but finishes with a zesty kick that will make your taste buds explode.

Their Rachel sauce kicks your ass from start to finish.

nice

If Rachel is less than overwhelming in the Woodward, Summer Bird whips the same bunch in the Gold Cup and wins the classic I think he will have a legit chance at HOY. If RA were to lose the Woodward and SB was to win out I dont think it would even be a contest.

???

She can win by a nose and the vote is secured. It already is IMO even if she loses.


this is all a moot point as a Euro will be winning our "dirt" classic for the second year. Shoot they can send a Grade 2 type horse over an win the classic.

What's the matter with you--aren't consumed with jealousy, errr, hatred of Jess Jackson like all REAL posters here?

The thing is regardless of how much we want to make of this 3 yr old filly vs older males, this isn't an overwhelming bunch of horses. Unless she wins in spectacular fashion I don't see the huge significance, it's not like Goldikova winning the Arc when she beat the best field of European horses over there, she would be beating a group of horses that are no better than tier 2 horses over here. I understand the historical significance but I really don't understand the glam factor the public is making of this. So she beats Macho or Pass The Point. Nice but awe inspiring no.

Jess Jackson is the only super rich man left with any courage these days.

I mean, I get what your point is, even though I vehemently disagree -- but you're definitely right here...not every race can be filled with quality foes like Dunkirk and Hold Me Back, right?

:tro: :D