Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird has a new trainer.
Tim Ice says he has been fired as the trainer of the 3-year-old champion along with 24 other horses owned by K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman.
K.K. Jayaraman said Tuesday from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., that Summer Bird will now be trained by Tim Ritchey. Ritchey trained 2005 Preakness Stakes and Belmont winner Afleet Alex.
The 35-year-old Ice was in his first year of training in 2009. Summer Bird had a sensational summer, winning the Belmont - the final leg of the Triple Crown- the Travers and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
The colt is recovering from leg surgery and could be back in training in six weeks.
Jayaraman cited a lack of communication as a reason for the change.
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