To watch video of the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
Summer Bird’s determined victory in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on Saturday cemented his status as the front-runner for the Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old male.
The Birdstone colt challenged game runner-up Quality Road entering the stretch and gradually wore down that foe to prevail by a length. Summer Bird became the first three-year-old since Easy Goer in 1989 to win the Belmont Stakes (G1), Travers Stakes (G1), and Jockey Club Gold Cup in the same season.
The historical significance of the accomplishment was not lost on winning trainer Tim Ice, who conditions Summer Bird for owners Kalarikkal K. and Vilasini D. Jayaraman.
"It means a lot to win the three races in New York,” Ice said. “It's been 20 years since a three-year-old won the Belmont Stakes, the Travers, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. I think it puts him in an elite group and he should be named [champion] three-year-old colt."
Jockey Kent Desormeaux positioned Summer Bird in ideal stalking position, a few lengths behind pacesetter Tizway and Quality Road through a half-mile in :49.73. Desormeaux edged Summer Bird closer to the front on the far turn and he drew alongside Quality Road’s outside flank entering the stretch as the Jockey Club Gold Cup turned into a two-horse race.
Quality Road dug in willingly when challenged, but Summer Bird would not be denied and shook clear in the final sixteenth.
“It’s just been an incredible five weeks since the Travers,” Ice said. “He came in here as good as he’s ever been.
"The goal is the Breeders' Cup [Classic (G1)]. We'll take a couple of days and see how he is."
Record-setting Florida Derby Presented by BlackBerry (G1) winner Quality Road was 4 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Tizway. Grade 1 winner Macho Again finished another 6 1/2 lengths back in fourth.
Summer Bird improved to four wins in eight starts and boosted his bankroll to $2,023,040. From the female family of 1992 champion sprinter and sire Rubiano, Grade 1 winner and sire Tapit, and graded stakes winner and sire Glitterman, Summer Bird is one of five winners from as many starters out of the Summer Squall mare Hong Kong Squall.
"Unlike the Travers, he was completely off the bridle, just cruising along. Once I positioned him, he was floating, completely turned off,” Desormeaux said. “He's trying to be the best horse I've ever ridden. … He was awesome today. He pulled up quietly like nothing had ever happened."
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor