Summer Bird (USA)
April 7, 2006 – December 23, 2013
Birdstone (USA) x Hong Kong Squall (USA), by Summer Squall (USA)
Family 3-o
April 7, 2006 – December 23, 2013
Birdstone (USA) x Hong Kong Squall (USA), by Summer Squall (USA)
Family 3-o
A late-maturing colt, Summer Bird never quite emerged from the shadow cast by eventual 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, who beat him easily in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1). Nonetheless, he proved the best stayer of the 2009 American foal crop and was voted champion 3-year-old male. He died after only three seasons at stud and did not live up to expectations as a sire.
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$2,323,040
2009:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Sea the Stars and 4 pounds below American Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra but best among 3-year-old males on dirt..
As an individual
A chestnut horse of rather angular make, Summer Bird had an excellent shoulder and a long, strong hip. He was backward as a youngster and did not break his maiden until March of his 3-year-old season. A good mover, his trademark while racing was his ability to deliver a long, sustained drive. His racing career ended after he suffered a fracture of his right front cannon bone while in training for the Japan Cup Dirt (JPN-G1) in late 2009, although he did not officially retire until June 2010.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Summer Bird sired 164 winners (60.9%) and nine stakes winners (3.3%) from 269 named foals. His best runner was 2016 Californian Stakes (USA-G2) winner Second Summer.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Summer Bird was bred and owned by Dr. Kalarikkal K. Jayaraman and Dr. Vilasani Devi Jayaraman. He was trained by Tim Ice. Following his injury, he was moved to Tim Richey's barn but never healed sufficiently to race. He entered stud in 2011 at Pauls Mill near Lexington, Kentucky, moving to WinStar Farm the following season. He was sold to Japanese interests in late 2012 and stood one season in Japan before dying of colic at Shuzunai Stallion Station on December 23, 2013.
Pedigree notes
Summer Bird is inbred 3x3 to 1980 English and Irish champion 3-year-old male Storm Bird. He is out of Hong Kong Squall, whose dam Hong Kong Jade is an Alysheba half sister to 1992 American champion sprinter Rubiano (by Fappiano) and to stakes winner Tap Your Heels (by Unbridled), dam of 2004 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner and three-time American champion sire Tapit (by Pulpit) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Madefromlucky. Hong Kong Squall is also a half sister to Secret Red (by Secretariat), dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Dubleo (by Southern Halo) and to Witchitoz (by Affirmed), dam of Grade 2 winner In Tune (by Unbridled's Song) and stakes winners Chitoz (by Forest Wildcat) and Affirmatif (by Unbridled's Song).
Hong Kong Jade is out of Ruby Slippers (by Nijinsky II), a half sister to 1990 Philadelphia Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G3) winner and useful sire Glitterman (by Dewan). Both are out of the stakes-winning In Reality mare Moon Glitter, a full sister to multiple Grade 3 winner and important stallion Relaunch and a half sister to stakes winners Belle o' Reason (by Hail to Reason; second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Chimes Band) and Battle Call (by Native Charger). The next dam in Summer Bird's tail-female line, Foggy Note (by The Axe II) was a multiple stakes winner and is a half sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Forward Charger (by Native Charger).
Books and media
Fun facts
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$2,323,040
2009:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Shadwell Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Arkansas Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings, 13 pounds below overall highweight Sea the Stars and 4 pounds below American Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra but best among 3-year-old males on dirt..
As an individual
A chestnut horse of rather angular make, Summer Bird had an excellent shoulder and a long, strong hip. He was backward as a youngster and did not break his maiden until March of his 3-year-old season. A good mover, his trademark while racing was his ability to deliver a long, sustained drive. His racing career ended after he suffered a fracture of his right front cannon bone while in training for the Japan Cup Dirt (JPN-G1) in late 2009, although he did not officially retire until June 2010.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Summer Bird sired 164 winners (60.9%) and nine stakes winners (3.3%) from 269 named foals. His best runner was 2016 Californian Stakes (USA-G2) winner Second Summer.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Summer Bird was bred and owned by Dr. Kalarikkal K. Jayaraman and Dr. Vilasani Devi Jayaraman. He was trained by Tim Ice. Following his injury, he was moved to Tim Richey's barn but never healed sufficiently to race. He entered stud in 2011 at Pauls Mill near Lexington, Kentucky, moving to WinStar Farm the following season. He was sold to Japanese interests in late 2012 and stood one season in Japan before dying of colic at Shuzunai Stallion Station on December 23, 2013.
Pedigree notes
Summer Bird is inbred 3x3 to 1980 English and Irish champion 3-year-old male Storm Bird. He is out of Hong Kong Squall, whose dam Hong Kong Jade is an Alysheba half sister to 1992 American champion sprinter Rubiano (by Fappiano) and to stakes winner Tap Your Heels (by Unbridled), dam of 2004 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner and three-time American champion sire Tapit (by Pulpit) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Madefromlucky. Hong Kong Squall is also a half sister to Secret Red (by Secretariat), dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Dubleo (by Southern Halo) and to Witchitoz (by Affirmed), dam of Grade 2 winner In Tune (by Unbridled's Song) and stakes winners Chitoz (by Forest Wildcat) and Affirmatif (by Unbridled's Song).
Hong Kong Jade is out of Ruby Slippers (by Nijinsky II), a half sister to 1990 Philadelphia Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G3) winner and useful sire Glitterman (by Dewan). Both are out of the stakes-winning In Reality mare Moon Glitter, a full sister to multiple Grade 3 winner and important stallion Relaunch and a half sister to stakes winners Belle o' Reason (by Hail to Reason; second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Chimes Band) and Battle Call (by Native Charger). The next dam in Summer Bird's tail-female line, Foggy Note (by The Axe II) was a multiple stakes winner and is a half sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Forward Charger (by Native Charger).
Books and media
- The New York Racing Association's video of Summer Bird's win in the 2009 Belmont Stakes can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziXsw8WvE1o.
- The New York Racing Association's video of Summer Bird's win in the 2009 Shadwell Travers Stakes can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=styQg1knCas.
- The New York Racing Association's video of Summer Bird's win in the 2009 Jockey Club Gold Cup can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSp1cxcFiPE.
Fun facts
- Although the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) is supposedly made to order for a late-running stayer, it actually favors horses with the tactical speed to be close up after the first mile. Summer Bird was the first Belmont Stakes winner since Hurryoff in 1933 not to be among the first three as the Belmont field turned for home.
- Summer Bird was the first horse to sweep the Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup—three of New York's oldest and most prestigious races—since Easy Goer in 1989.
Photo credit
Photo by Jessica Morgan; taken in 2010 at Pauls Mill. Used by permission.
Last updated: December 4, 2020
Photo by Jessica Morgan; taken in 2010 at Pauls Mill. Used by permission.
Last updated: December 4, 2020