Originally Posted by pointman (Post 653553)

What is so odd about my statement? Without inside information, it was hard to see why Ice deserved to lose this horse after what he had done with him. Then for the horse to be retired before he even made a start for Richey just seemed to me to make it a pretty silly move by the owners.

Originally Posted by NTamm1215 (Post 653529)

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

Originally Posted by Kasept (Post 653479)

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.

Originally Posted by CSC (Post 653563)

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.

Originally Posted by johnny pinwheel (Post 653569)

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

Originally Posted by CSC (Post 653655)

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...:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by CSC (Post 653655)

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...:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by foregos nuts (Post 653651)

Don't forget that JImmy Jerkens lost Quality Road because he would not bend to Evans "do whatever you have to do just win mentality"... Why do you think Q.R. went nuts in the starting gate at the breeders cup.Keep in mind Pletcher was DQ'd for a positive in a previous Breeders Cup and would do anything at any time to keep his winning %.

Originally Posted by pointman (Post 653553)

What is so odd about my statement? Without inside information, it was hard to see why Ice deserved to lose this horse after what he had done with him. Then for the horse to be retired before he even made a start for Richey just seemed to me to make it a pretty silly move by the owners.

Originally Posted by pointman (Post 653553)

What is so odd about my statement? Without inside information, it was hard to see why Ice deserved to lose this horse after what he had done with him. Then for the horse to be retired before he even made a start for Richey just seemed to me to make it a pretty silly move by the owners.

Originally Posted by Travis Stone (Post 653516)

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."

Originally Posted by Revidere (Post 653561)

Enjoy the Bird

Belmont



Working for the Haskell



At the barn



Jockey Club Gold Cup