Icon Project moved to the lead with more than a quarter-mile to run and drew away to a 13 1/2 -length victory in the $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes for fillies and mares Sunday at Saratoga Race Course.

Julien Leparoux rode the 4-year-old Icon Project, who got even for a defeat last month in the Delaware Handicap at the hands of Swift Temper, the runner-up in the Personal Ensign. Icon Project ran 1 miles in 2:02.37 and earned $240,000 for owner Andrew Rosen. The Personal Ensign was the third win in six starts this year for the Marty Wolfson-trained filly.

Icon Project, the favorite, paid $5.60, $3.30 and $3.10. Swift Temper paid $4.80 and $4.20 and Morena, third of eight, paid $10.00 to show.

Jockey Elvis Trujillo scored his fifth victory on Sundays card at Monmouth Park by guiding Luna Vega to the winners circle in the $300,000 Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Stakes.

Trujillo moved wide with Luna Vega in the stretch, took command halfway home and scored a 1 1/2 -length victory over Spritely, covering the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track in 1:41 4-5. The Steve Asmussen-trained filly returned $13, $5.40 and $3.40 in winning for the fourth time in 14 starts.

Spritely paid $4.20 and $2.60, while Devil House was another seven lengths back in third and paid $5.

Euphony, the post-time favorite, never factored and finished fifth, the first time she was off the board in 13 career outings.

There was a lot of speed in the race so I just stayed behind everyone, Trujillo said. At the three-eighths pole, I came out and she ran a good race from there.

Seven-year-old gelding Spring House rallied in the final yards Sunday to beat Sir Dave by a nose and win the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap for the second straight year.

Ridden by Alex Solis for trainer Julio Canani, Spring House was eighth in the field of 10 for much of the race and was fifth at the top of the stretch, but kicked home for the win, covering 1 3-8 miles in 2:12.61. The gelding set a course record of 2:11.14 a year ago.

Spring House paid $7.60, $4.60 and $3.80. Sir Dave paid $10 and $5.80. Temple City was third and paid $5.40 to show.

The favorite, Artiste Royal, was never a factor and had to rally to finish fourth.

The victory gave Spring House an automatic berth in the Breeders Cup Turf on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita. He finished ninth in that race a year ago.

Sundays victory was Spring Houses 10th win in 43 lifetime starts and pushed his earnings past the million mark for a total of $1,121,284.

Summer Bird isnt the other Bird anymore.

The Belmont Stakes winner came charging off the far turn and splashed his way to victory in the $1 million Travers Stakes at rain-soaked Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.

Now that Summer Bird is the only 3-year-old male with two Grade 1 wins, the son of Birdstone almost certainly moves to the head of his class. Of course, Rachel Alexandra is No. 1 3-year-old filly and leading contender for Horse of the Year.

But Summer Bird is the word in the boys worldahead of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who missed the Travers as he recovers from throat surgery, and ahead of Quality Road, who finished third in the slop as the 3-2 favorite, five lengths behind the winner.

To me, he is the 3-year-old champion now, a delighted winning trainer Tim Ice said. They can call him the other Bird if they want, but hes won the Belmont and the Travers. Take it from there.

Like father, like son, too.

In completing the Belmont-Travers double, Summer Bird joins his sire, Birdstone, who did it in 2004. Summer Bird is the 30th horse to win both races.

Winning this race means as much as winning the Belmont, Ice said. For my colt to win the Belmont and come back and win the Travers like his sire means a lot.

A crowd of 34,221 braved showers all day for the biggest racing card of the six-week season, capped by the 1 1/4-mile Midsummer Derby.

Summer Bird, with Kent Desormeaux aboard, came into the race off a runner-up finish to Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2. For two weeks, Ice had been saying his colt was ready for a big race, and he surely delivered.

Quality Road, who would have been the Derby favorite before he was sidelined with hoof issues, won the Amsterdam Stakes earlier in the month in his return. But he wasnt quite ready for the Travers: He bucked jockey John Velazquez off before entering the starting gate, was squeezed between horses at the start and finished third in the seven-horse field.

Charitable Man was fourth, followed by Warriors Reward, Kensei and Our Edge.

There was nothing I could do, but he came back and got himself back into the race, Velazquez said.

Summer Bird returned $6.80, $4.30 and $2.70 as the second betting choice at nearly 3-1, while Hold Me Back $12.40 and $5.30. Quality Road paid $2.50.

Summer Bird broke strongly from the No. 6 post, and was four wide and running third behind early leader Our Edge, with Jim Dandy winner Kensei and Quality Road also in pursuit.

Leaving the far turn, Summer Bird launched a rally and closed the gap quickly on Kensei, who had taken the lead. He then took control nearing the quarter pole and pulled away for his third victory in seven career starts.The winning time was 2:02.83.
As he crossed the finish line, Desormeaux patted Summer Bird three times with his right hand. He said Summer Bird ran like he did in winning the Belmont.

Its the ultimate feeling, having a horse on his fingertips, being on the bridle, not shoving on his neck, trying to make him keep up, Desormeaux said. That was the exact situation I had in the Belmont. When I turned him loose, it was deja vu today.

The Hall of Fame rider also said he didnt think Summer Bird liked the track in New Jersey.

I didnt believe for a second that Summer Bird enjoyed the goinghe was completely different. It was sealed and very fast, Desormeaux said. Today the track is a different track.Theres some depth underneath his feet, it acts like a cushion and he enjoys that, I think the real Summer Bird was able to strut his stuff not in New Jersey but in New York.

On the undercard:

Capt. Candyman Can was declared the winner of the $300,000 Kings Bishop Stakes after first-place finisher Vineyard Haven was disqualified by the stewards for interference in the stretch. Vineyard Haven, ridden by Alan Garcia, bumped Capt. Candyman Can several times as they dueled for the lead.

Music Note ($13.60) outdueled Indian Blessing in the stretch and splashed her way to a 5 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Ballerina Stakes for older fillies and mares. Informed Decision, who had a five-race winning streak, was third.

Salve Germania ($50.50), the longest shot in the field at 24-1, finished with a rush and nipped 9-5 favorite Rutherinne by a nose to win the $200,000 Balston Spa on a soft turf course.

Sara Louise ($6.30), the last horse to defeat Rachel Alexandra, made her 3-year-old debut with a two-length victory over Bold Union in the six-furlong, $110,000 Victory Ride Stakes.

FINISH LINES: Rachel Alexandra will run next Saturday against older boys in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes. Jockeys who rode in the Travers pledged 10 percent of their earnings to establish a fund for 23-year-old apprentice rider Michael Straight, who suffered spinal injuries, including four broken vertebrae, in a spill during a race at Arlington Park on Aug. 26.

Judge Joe beat Neighsay Hanover by 3 3/4 lengths to win the $750,774 Yonkers Trot on Saturday night.

Judge Joe went wire-to-wire for the win in 1:56 1/5 and paid $3.40. Ron Pierce guided the colt quickly from the rail and shrugged off all his challengers for the easy win.

There wont be a triple crown winner as Muscle Hill, who won the Hambletonian, bypassed the Yonkers Trot to easily capture the $200,000 American National at Balmoral Park in Illinois tonight.

Windsong Soprano took the $367,985 Hudson Filly Trot upseting favorite Yursa Hanover, who broke stride on the first turn.

Longshot Rosebuds Ridge held off the favorite Sweetlalabye to win the $150,000 Susans Girl stakes race at Calder on Saturday.

Rosebuds Ridge opened up a four-length lead at the top of the stretch before Sweetlalabye made a strong run on the rail, but fell short in the photo finish. Winsockie was a distant third.

The winner, ridden by Ceceilio Penalba paid $37.40, 12.80, and 6.80. Sweetlalabye, the 9-5 choice, paid 3.60 and 2.40. Winsockie paid 3.20 to show.

Jackson Bend won his fourth race in a row with a hard earned victory over Mr. Green in the Affirmed (open) division of the Stallion Stakes. The favorite wore down Mr. Green in the final 16th to win by 1 1-2 lengths.

Theres a reason Quality Road is the morning-line favorite over Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird in Saturdays $1 million Travers. He was the Kentucky Derby favorite before hoof injuries sidelined him for the Triple Crown season.

Now hes back, and in record-setting form.

Earlier this month, Quality Road returned to the races for the first time in more than four months and won the 6 1/2 -furlong Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga in track record time of 1:13.74.

Previously, the 3-year-old colt won the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in track record time of 1:47.72.

The big question going into the 1 1/4-mile Travers is whether Quality Road is ready to stretch out in distance.

Hes a special horse, Todd Pletcher said of Quality Road, who was trained by Jimmy Jerkens but sent to Pletcher in June by owner Edward P. Evans. It takes a special kind of horse, with both speed and the ability to carry that speed over a distance of ground, and I think hes that kind of horse.

Kiaran McLaughlin, who sends out Charitable Man, believes Quality Road is the one to beat in the Mid-Summer Derby

I have to give Todd great credit in getting him ready to run, after the layoff to win so impressively at 6 1/2 furlongs, McLaughlin said. He (Pletcher) is trying to do all that he can do to ensure that he will get the mile-and-a-quarter, and Im sure that he will.

Quality Road, the 8-5 choice, will be ridden by John Velazquez. Summer Bird, with Kent Desormeaux up, is 3-1, with Jim Dandy winner Kensei 7-2, followed by Charitable Man (6-1), Warriors Reward (8-1) and Hold Me Back and Our Edge, both 15-1.

The National Weather service forecast for Saturday is calling for a 90 percent chance of rainoccasional showers with thunderstorms. Quality Road has never run on a wet track.

Its like always with the weather, Pletcher said. You wish that it was going to be perfect conditions, but you have absolutely no control over it so you just hope for the best.

Missing from the Travers is Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.

Rachel Alexandra is skipping the race because she will be taking on older boys next week in the Woodward Stakes, and the Derby winner is out as he continues to recover from throat surgery.

The field is still a strong one.

Even if you go by what they say on paperyou have the Florida Derby winner, the Belmont winner, the Jim Dandy winner, the Peter Pan winner, the Barbaro winner (thats us) says Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who will saddle Our Echo.

There are so many great qualifications in there. If you had the Kentucky Derby winner in there, it would have been special, but its a special race anyway.

Summer Birds trainer Tim Ice is looking for a big race from his Belmont winner, who was a solid but distant runner-up to Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.

Hes run a couple of big races, but I still think he has a lot left to show just how good he is, Ice said. Im really happy with the way hes coming into the race.

Kensei comes into the 140th Travers off victories in the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont on July 4 and the Jim Dandy on Aug. 1. The son of Mr. Greeley missed the Triple Crown races, but now has a chance to move out of the shadow of stablemate Rachel Alexandra.

This is the defining moment for him, said Stonestreet Stables owner Jess Jackson, who also co-owns Rachel Alexandra. It wont be the final moment, but it will be the defining moment.

Chip Woolley, who trains Mine That Bird, said Quality Road was the horse he would have feared most.

You dont know how good that horse really is. He has shown great talent, Woolley said. Hes a very fearsome sight out there.

Congressional Page took the lead in mid-stretch and drew off for a two-length victory in the $42,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Wednesday.

Trained by Michael Trombetta and ridden by Carlos Marquez Jr., R. Larry Johnsons Congressional Page covered the six furlongs in 1:10 and paid $6.80, $4.40 and $3.20. The 4-year-old son of Orientate is unbeaten in three career starts.

The Last Wave finished second and paid $5 and $3.60. Favored Our Honor was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third and was $2.20 to show.

Until this week, the Travers Stakes had the potential to bring together the three winners of the Triple Crown races. On Saturday, only Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird will be in the field of seven 3-year-olds.

Two days after the announcement that Preakness winning filly Rachel Alexandra will race next in the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 5, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was withdrawn from the $1 million Travers.

Mine That Bird was not entered Wednesday in the Midsummer Derby after an examination showed a small area of inflammation in his surgically repaired throat after a Tuesday workout.

Weve decided to err on the side of caution and pass this race up and aim down the road to the Breeders Cup, trainer Chip Woolley said. Its probably not a problem, but we dont feel comfortable taking a chance.

It was a hard decision, said Dr. Leonard Blach, who co-own Mine That Bird with Mark Allen. Having surgery just eight days ago, we probably dont want to take a risk.

Summer Bird has raced only once since winning the Belmont, finishing second to Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2. He was placed closer to the pace than usual that day and lacked his typical late run. But trainer Tim Ice said Summer Bird will be well behind the early leaders Saturday.

Monmouth Park is a speed-favoring racetrack and he has the speed to be close, Ice said. Theres plenty of pace in the Travers, so well be able to take back to where we would be normally.

Summer Bird, though, is not the favorite for the 1-mile race at Saratoga Race Course. Quality Road, who would have been the Derby favorite if a hoof injury hadnt kept him out of the Triple Crown, was made the 8-5 morning-line choice.

A winner of four races in five starts, including the Florida Derby, Quality Road returned to competition with a Saratoga track record for 6 1/2 furlongs in winning the Amsterdam Stakes on Aug. 3. Between those races, owner Edward P. Evans moved the colt from trainer Jimmy Jerkens barn to Todd Pletchers.

In the absence of Rachel Alexandra, her male stablemate, Kensei will carry the Stonestreet Stable colors into the Travers. The colt comes to the race off strong winning efforts in the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont and the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Aug. 1.

We got off to a late start that eliminated him from the Triple Crown races, but hes come around, said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. With the way hes matured with racing, both physically and mentally, were excited about our chances.

The field, from the rail out, is Hold Me Back (Julien Leparoux, 15-1), Charitable Man (6-1), Warriors Reward (8-1), Quality Road (8-5), Our Edge (15-1), Summer Bird (3-1) and Kensei (7-2).

Skyrush rallied to win Wednesdays $89,930 Harry F Brubaker Stakes by a neck in his US debut at Del Mar.

Ridden by Martin Pedroza, Argentine-bred Skyrush covered 1 1-16 miles on the turf in 1:40.77 and paid $25.20, $8.60 and $4.20 at 11-1 odds.

Racketeer returned $8.40 and $3.80, while Tiz West was another two lengths back in third and paid $3.20 to show.

Even-money favorite Tiago finished sixth and last in his first start in more than six months.

The victory, worth $53,958, increased Skyrushs career earnings to $96,262, with four wins in eight starts.