Summer Bird to Japan Cup Dirt
 

ARCADIA, Calif. - After traveling from Arkansas to Kentucky, to New York and New Jersey, back to New York and then to California, Summer Bird next will be discovering Japan.

Tim Ice, the trainer of Summer Bird, on Monday said that an invitation has been accepted to run Summer Bird in the Japan Cup Dirt on Dec. 6. Summer Bird, who finished fourth under jockey Kent Desormeaux on Saturday in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting, will remain at Santa Anita until flying to Japan on Nov. 17.

"I'm filling out my paperwork right now, and Kent is coming by to do his later this morning," Ice said Monday morning. "We're going to try to get Birdstone some international recognition."

Birdstone is the sire of Summer Bird - who won the Belmont, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup - and also of Mine That Bird, the Kentucky Derby winner who finished ninth in the BC Classic.

The Japan Cup Dirt is run one week after the better-known Japan Cup, which is on turf. The dirt race is run at Hanshin Race Course, at approximately 1 1/8 miles, and is on a right-handed course. The purse of the race is approximately $2.8 million.

Summer Bird's campaign this year - three Grade 1 wins, including one against older rivals - has made him the overwhelming favorite to be named champion 3-year-old male.

Ice said he was satisfied with the way Summer Bird performed on Saturday. Summer Bird was beaten three lengths by Zenyatta.

"Zenyatta deserved it. She ran a hell of a race," Ice said. "She beat me, but it was fun to watch her run, to be a part of it. I'm proud of the way my horse ran."

Summer Bird removed doubt about his ability to handle a synthetic surface. He had been based in California one year ago with trainer John Sadler, but was said at the time to not be handling the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, so he left the circuit. Drs. Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman, who bred and own Summer Bird, turned him over to Ice, who has had a breakout first year as head trainer.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/108826.html

NT

Ugh. This never goes well for the Yanks.

Have they lost their minds? That dirt course is garbage.

I kinda like the move... any horses going over for the Japan Cup Turf?

I'm sure Lava Man is available.

Good luck to them, but I'd rather see him given a rest or stay in this country for another start this year.

I agree with Slot's assessment.

I'm not sure about this one, I think a break is well deserved for him. He's taken on the toughest campaign of any horse this year and you want to make sure you have a good, fresh 4 yr old to race next year. Perhaps biting off more than is needed.

Totally agree. Lay off, come back at Gulfstream or FairGrounds. This makes no sense to me at all.

Toughest campaign of the year for Summer Bird?!

Interpretation.

You don't agree, look at the races he has raced in this year. The way he is going he will end up in the Hollywood Derby after Japan the way Ice is talking him up on turf.

If you think Summer Bird is a turf horse then I have a bridge to sell you...

NT

I think it was an Ice quote, but notice I never talked up SB this week one iota, however I admit I was cheering for him but I didn't lay a dime on him at that price in the classic.

Another bunch of connections seduced by the limelight.

SB had a tough year. No rest for the "weary". Needs 20hr plane trip and quarantine in Japan so he can finish "up the track" there.

How have other US horses done racing in the Japan Cup?

This must be what Kent D. was saving him for at the end of the Classic.

its impossible to bet a dirt horse on a alternative turf track that i totally agree with.

SB was the best horse in the race IMO.. well dirt horse I guess there were all kinds of horses in that race.

This seems to be what happens when a trainer gets his first decent or good horse.. he runs them all over the place, shows no patience(Wooley comes to mind too), and basically ruins the horse before its time.

Dude, give your horse a break, he had a fantastic season and will be very good to you next year if you are good to him now...

I sincerely doubt it's Tim Ice making all of these decisions. There is an owner involved here, after all.

I laughed.

he can rest s/b after. lets see what he has left . he aa growing 3 yr old. no baby