SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Tim Ice was already feeling good about his 3-year-old Summer Bird's chances in next week's $1 million Travers Stakes. But the trainer's confidence level ratcheted up a notch after watching the Belmont Stakes winner work a solid five furlongs in 1:00.91 early Saturday morning over a muddy Saratoga strip.
Even though Ice was satisfied with Summer Bird's five-furlong work last week, he was encouraged to see the pattern that has developed with this horse continue. That is, his second work at a new track is better than the first.