Summer Bird puts in final move

Summer Bird flew over the mud at Monmouth in his final major Haskell work (Jessica Denver/Equi-Photo) Belmont S. (G1) victor SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) put in his final work Sunday morning at Monmouth Park for the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational (G1), breezing five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard. The chestnut colt was on the track at approximately 9:45 a.m. (EDT), working on a surface that was muddy and sealed after overnight rains swept through the area. Monmouth Park clockers got him going the first quarter in :26 and the half in :49 before coming home in 1:01 4/5. "He had a good strong work and he galloped out strong," said Tim Ice, who conditions the Belmont winner for Drs. Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman. "Everything was great. I couldn't be happier." Desormeaux, who was aboard for the Belmont win and will be back aboard in the Haskell, was on hand at Monmouth Sunday morning for the work.

"The track was a little slick and I got him coming home in 11 and change,"

Desormeaux said. "I tried to get him over the best part of the racetrack. He

knows the game and knows how to prepare himself. He's ready."

Desormeaux is looking to become the first rider in Monmouth history to win

back-to-back Haskells. He captured last year's race atop Kentucky Derby (G1) and

Preakness (G1) winner Big Brown.

Summer Bird, who shipped to Monmouth from Louisiana in early July, will face

fellow classic winner and superstar filly RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) in

the 1 1/8-mile Haskell. Rachel Alexandra, the Preakness winner, is slated to

ship to Monmouth from Saratoga on Friday morning and school in the paddock with

the runners from that day's 6TH race.

Also expected in the starting gate for the 42nd running of the Haskell are

Arkansas Derby (G2) winner PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike), multiple Grade 2 scorer

MUNNINGS (Speightstown), Long Branch victor ATOMIC RAIN (Smart Strike), Iowa

Derby hero DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) and Continental Mile champ BUNKER HILL

(Trippi).

Munnings also worked on Sunday, breezing five furlongs in 1:02 over Belmont

Park's fast dirt training track.