Summer Bird Runs Away With the Travers Stakes

Summer Bird must love the State of New York. The 3 year old son of Birdstone added to his Belmont victory by winning the Travers Stakes , which dates back to 1864, today on a muddy track at Saratoga. Summer Bird took the lead in the Mid-Summer Derby over rising star Kensei at the quarter pole and never looked back, holding off a late closing longshot, Hold Me Back to win and earn his second Grade 1 victory in the slop. Quality Road finished third.

"I could have went to the front at the seven-eighths pole," winning jockey Kent Desormeaux said after winning the prestigious race. "For at least a half a mile I had him under restraint."

The winner, sent off as the 5-2 second choice, paid $7.80, $4.30, and $2.70. The exacta (6-1) with 17-1 Hold Me Back paid $115.50. The trifecta (6-1-4) was $343.50.

Here is a video replay of the race: