A year ago this weekend, unknown trainer Tim Ice, who was just launching his career, saddled a maiden winner as a longshot in the Arkansas Derby. The colt finished a closing third in that prep and a credible sixth in the Kentucky Derby before reeling off wins in the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup to earn an Eclipse championship.

Fast forward to 2010. Ice has lost Summer Bird to another trainer but he's still at Oaklawn Park today, saddling maiden winner New Madrid, a longshot in a field of nine in the $1 million Arkansas Derby, newly a Grade I this year based on the success of its recent graduates, such as Summer Bird.

Following a poor effort in his career debut at Churchill Downs, New Madrid, a son of Rock Hard Ten, finished a solid second to Sunland Park Derby winner Endorsement in an Oaklawn maiden race in February, then got his first win over the track on March 13. Abel Castellano was aboard the Shortleaf Stable colt in the win and will ride again today.

For more insight on today's two key Derby preps, the Arkansas Derby and the Blue Grass, check out our preview in today's Saratogian.

Meanwhile, Summer Bird, who was transferred to trainer Tim Ritchey in February, is progressing well in his comeback from a fracture he suffered in late November while training for the Japan cup Dirt. The 4-year-old son of Birdstone will ship to Ritchey's base at Delaware Park on Monday or Tuesday and is expected to begin breezing in early May. Ritchey hopes Summer Bird will be ready to start in late June or early July.

Belmont, Travers and Jockey club Gold Cup winner Summer Bird returned to the track this week for the first time since suffering a condylar fracture in late November while training for the Japan Cup Dirt.

The 4-year-old son of Birdstone jogged Wednesday and Thursday mornings at Oaklawn Park for trainer Tim Ritchey, who replaced Tim Ice in early February when owners K.K and Vilasini Jayaraman moved their horses from Ice's barn.

Summer Bird took New York by storm last year, winning the Belmont in June, the Travers in August and the Gold Cup in October to become the first horse since Hall of Famer Easy Goer in 1989 to sweep all three races. The Eclipse champion 3-year-old male of 2009, he most recently finished a credible fourth behind Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 7.

Travers winner and Eclipse champion Summer Bird was transferred from trainer Tim Ice into Tim Ritchey's barn on Tuesday morning.

The colt's owners, Drs. K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman, cited a communication breakdown with Ice; the trainer believes the owners became frustrated by a slow start to the Oaklawn meet. Altogether, the Jayaramans moved 25 horses from Ice, leaving him with six in the barn.

Under Ice's training, Summer Bird went from an unraced maiden at this time last year to the Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old male, taking the Belmont in his fifth start and adding the Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup later in the year. Last time out, the colt was fourth behind Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He then suffered a condylar fracture in late November while training for the Japan Cup Dirt. The son of 2004 Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird is expected to return to training in mid-March.

Ritchey races primarily in the mid-Atlantic circuit and has been the leading trainer at Delaware Park five times. He is best known as the trainer of 2005 champion 3-year-old male Afleet Alex, winner of that year's Preakness and Belmont. Afleet Alex also took the Sanford and Hopeful at Saratoga as a 2-year-old.

Travers winner Summer Bird, who this week was named Eclipse champion 3-year-old male, is still on the mend at Oaklawn Park.

The chestnut colt fractured a leg while training for the Japan Cup Dirt in late November. He was flown back to California for surgery, which he came through with flying colors, and then shipped to trainer Tim Ice's barn to recover.

"He’s coming along … I’m optimistic,” Ice said. "He’s walking 20 minutes a day now and will increase to 30 minutes a day on Monday. At the Eclipse Awards, I talked to [Dr. Wayne McIlwraith], who did his surgery. He looked at his X-rays and we’re keeping it month-to-month now. On March 1, we’ll know more about when he’ll go back to the track."

Ice and owners Drs. K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman traveled to Beverly Hills for the Eclipse Awards ceremony on Monday night. Summer Bird, who became the first horse since Hall of Famer Easy Goer in 1989 to sweep the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup in the same season, was named champion with 225 first-place votes ( Derby winner Mine That Bird was second with four votes). Summer Bird also finished third in the Arkansas Derby, second to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell and finished his season with a credible fourth behind Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

"It was exciting and I enjoyed every minute of the evening,” Ice said of the ceremony. "We were pretty confident we would win, but you just never know how the voting will go."

At this time last year, Summer Bird was an unraced maiden and Ice, who was in his first year of training on his own, was a relative unknown. There are big plans for both this year. Should Summer Bird continue to heal well and regain his earlier form, his ultimate goal will be the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. He's expected to spend the summer and fall in New York again, as Ice, who enjoyed his experience at Saratoga last year, plans to move the bulk of his stable to the NYRA circuit this year.

The trainer has 27 horses in training for his longtime supporters the Jayaramans; among these is Indy Squall, a 3-year-old half brother to Summer Bird, expected to make his first start at the Oaklawn meet. Ice's success has also attracted some new clients. One is Marylou Whitney, owner of Belmont-Travers winner Birdstone, the sire of Summer Bird and Mine That Bird. Last fall, she sent Ice a pair of horses to work with.