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Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird are targeting the Shadwell Travers (gr. I) later this summer at Saratoga. Both horses, however, are taking different routes to the "Mid-Summer Derby."

It was announced that Summer Bird will prep for the Travers in the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park on August 2. Mine That Bird's trainer, Chip Woolley, said he plans to run in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Park on August 1.

There has never been a Travers winner to have used the West Virginia Derby as a prep. Since 1968, 12 Travers winners have prepped in the Haskell Invitational, with seven horses having won both, most recently Point Given in 2001. Fouteen Travers winners have prepped in the Jim Dandy.

There have been 28 Belmont winners who came back to win the Travers, most recently Summer Bird and Mine That Bird’s sire, Birdstone, in 2004. Ten horses have won the Derby and the Travers, most recently Street Sense in 2007.

Also targeting this years Travers Stakes is Peter Pan winner (gr. II) winner Charitable Man.