Summer Bird to Haskell
By The Editors

Published on June 10, 2009 | Racing

Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird will point to the August 2 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, trainer Tim Ice said on Wednesday, then the August 29 Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Reports Mary Rampellini for DRF (on ESPN):

Plans are to train Summer Bird at Louisiana Downs until the early part of July, at which time he would ship to Monmouth, said Ice. He will stay on the East Coast through the Travers.

“It’s an opportunity to win another Grade I for the colt,” Ice said (Times-Union).

The November 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita is the season-ending goal for Summer Bird.

Also declared for the Haskell are Musket Man, third in the Kentucky Derby, and West Side Bernie. Charitable Man, fourth in the Belmont, has been mentioned as possible for the Haskell or the Jim Dandy (which could also draw Florida Derby winner Quality Road), as has Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. If only Monmouth could lure Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, said to be prepping for the June 27 Mother Goose or July 25 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont, we could see all three Classic winners run against each other in early August, a very exciting prospect.