Summer Bird Retired

[Kasept]

There is plenty of blame to go around in this story, but Tim Ritchey doesn't deserve an ounce of criticism. The horse hadn't been doing well at all coming back from the surgery, and just didn't heel well enough to run back. So taking the horse from Tim Ice has no bearing on the ending of the Summer Bird saga.

The Jayaramans were lucky to come up with Summer Bird in the first place, as his breeding was a complete accident, and Ice did a tremendous job with him crafting a 3yo Championship. It was the decision of the meddling and difficult couple to run in the Breeders' Cup and in Japan, both against Ice's wishes, and they are 100% responsible for the outcome. And at the same time, Ice was also 100% responsible for having been fired by them.

The net result is that the Jayaramans, who have been in racing a long time got a big horse, and Tim Ice, who was just starting out, got a jump-start on a career. Summer Bird was a nice horse who was very pleasant to be around, and carved out a darned notable spot for himself in racing lore with the Belmont-Travers-Gold Cup triple.

[MisterB]

He is far from a throw back from yester year.

[Patrick333]

Originally Posted by Kasept

There is plenty of blame to go around in this story, but Tim Ritchey doesn't deserve an ounce of criticism. The horse hadn't been doing well at all coming back from the surgery, and just didn't heel well enough to run back. So taking the horse from Tim Ice has no bearing on the ending of the Summer Bird saga.

The Jayaramans were lucky to come up with Summer Bird in the first place, as his breeding was a complete accident, and Ice did a tremendous job with him crafting a 3yo Championship. It was the decision of the meddling and difficult couple to run in the Breeders' Cup and in Japan, both against Ice's wishes, and they are 100% responsible for the outcome. And at the same time, Ice was also 100% responsible for having been fired by them.

The net result is that the Jayaramans, who have been in racing a long time got a big horse, and Tim Ice, who was just starting out, got a jump-start on a career. Summer Bird was a nice horse who was very pleasant to be around, and carved out a darned notable spot for himself in racing lore with the Belmont-Travers-Gold Cup triple.

Well said Steve.

[CSC]

I said it at the time, I hated the trip to the Japan, it's too bad I would have loved to have seen him crush Quality Road road again this year.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by CSC

I said it at the time, I hated the trip to the Japan, it's too bad I would have loved to have seen him crush Quality Road road again this year.

A healthy Summer Bird would have been lucky to finish 3rd in the Met Mile yesterday. Now, going 10f against Quality Road is a different story. To that I would say just because a horse cannot go 10f as well as 8f does not make them "not great."

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

A healthy Summer Bird would have been lucky to finish 3rd in the Met Mile yesterday. Now, going 10f against Quality Road is a different story. To that I would say just because a horse cannot go 10f as well as 8f does not make them "not great."

At a mile, agreed.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

A healthy Summer Bird would have been lucky to finish 3rd in the Met Mile yesterday. Now, going 10f against Quality Road is a different story. To that I would say just because a horse cannot go 10f as well as 8f does not make them "not great."

I have to clarify myself Travis from my statement yesterday, though I believe Quality Miler would have the advantage at a mile over Summer Bird. I don't think there would be anything lucky if Summer Bird finished 3rd in the Met Mile this year if indeed he would have finished 3rd. I think if you look at last year's JCGC he was right there at the 1/4 pole with Quality Road, with the way he was improving by using more cruising speed he would have been a handful for any horse in the Met, he certainly shouldn't be taken lightly. I'm pretty sure he is the only horse to beat QR twice in his career, we can't forget that.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by CSC

I said it at the time, I hated the trip to the Japan, it's too bad I would have loved to have seen him crush Quality Road road again this year.

So it's OK to make all kinds of excuses for Summer Bird losing to Rachel but none are allowed for QR losing to SB?

NT

[Revidere]

Enjoy the Bird

Belmont



Working for the Haskell



At the barn



Jockey Club Gold Cup

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Revidere

Enjoy the Bird

Belmont



Working for the Haskell



At the barn



Jockey Club Gold Cup

Beautiful photos.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

So it's OK to make all kinds of excuses for Summer Bird losing to Rachel but none are allowed for QR losing to SB?

NT

I refuse to accept that Summer Bird is no better than a desperate length the better than Munnings at 1 1/8. Rachel won the race, the credit is hers, she will have that on her resume for now and when she retires. But there is no way anyone will ever convince me SB ran his best race that day.

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by CSC

I refuse to accept that Summer Bird is no better than a desperate length the better than Munnings at 1 1/8. Rachel won the race, the credit is hers, she will have that on her resume for now and when she retires. But there is no way anyone will ever convince me SB ran his best race that day.

i agree, hes a 10 furlong or more horse. rachel is a 9 furlong horse or less. he was coming off the belmont and had the travers in his sights. so what he got second in the haskell, as if thats an embarrasment. people here gave me crap when i said it. but, i think rachel wanted no part of summer bird and quality road in the travers...so they went woodward at 9 furlongs against much weaker horses. oh yeah, its sounds like history and this and that. in reality who is better quality road and summer bird or macho again and bullsbay. its funny weeks later macho could not come within a quarter mile of quality road and summer bird at 10 furlongs. its too bad he had to retire because as 4 yo's both quality road and summer bird would of been a good match up. why don't they race rachel against quality road...at any distance....she can beat him.....lol

[CSC]

Originally Posted by johnny pinwheel

i agree, hes a 10 furlong or more horse. rachel is a 9 furlong horse or less. he was coming off the belmont and had the travers in his sights. so what he got second in the haskell, as if thats an embarrasment. people here gave me crap when i said it. but, i think rachel wanted no part of summer bird and quality road in the travers...so they went woodward at 9 furlongs against much weaker horses. oh yeah, its sounds like history and this and that. in reality who is better quality road and summer bird or macho again and bullsbay. its funny weeks later macho could not come within a quarter mile of quality road and summer bird at 10 furlongs. its too bad he had to retire because as 4 yo's both quality road and summer bird would of been a good match up. why don't they race rachel against quality road...at any distance....she can beat him.....lol

Judging by the way she has run this year and how she gamely held off Macho Again and Bullsbay, JJ and SA ducked correctly last yr. Can't blame them for that, I just wish people would stop making them out to be the great sportsman they pretend to be...

All options are open, when she gets her fitness level back up to last year's level. OMG...

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Kasept

There is plenty of blame to go around in this story, but Tim Ritchey doesn't deserve an ounce of criticism. The horse hadn't been doing well at all coming back from the surgery, and just didn't heel well enough to run back. So taking the horse from Tim Ice has no bearing on the ending of the Summer Bird saga.

The Jayaramans were lucky to come up with Summer Bird in the first place, as his breeding was a complete accident, and Ice did a tremendous job with him crafting a 3yo Championship. It was the decision of the meddling and difficult couple to run in the Breeders' Cup and in Japan, both against Ice's wishes, and they are 100% responsible for the outcome. And at the same time, Ice was also 100% responsible for having been fired by them.

The net result is that the Jayaramans, who have been in racing a long time got a big horse, and Tim Ice, who was just starting out, got a jump-start on a career. Summer Bird was a nice horse who was very pleasant to be around, and carved out a darned notable spot for himself in racing lore with the Belmont-Travers-Gold Cup triple.

Spot on...

Any idea on how to get a hold of them?