Kentucky Derby Winner Mine That Bird Sharp in Churchill Downs Work

Jul 07, 2009 By John Asher

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Serte Thoroughbreds’ Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), tuned up for a return to competition with a sharp four-furlong work on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

    Jockey Jamie Theriot was aboard the gelded son of Birdstone as he covered the half-mile over a “fast” track in :49.40.

    Mine That Bird started slowly, but finished fast as he covered the distance in fractional times of :13.20, :25.60 and :38 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80.  The clocking reflects a final eight in 11:40 and he galloped out the extra furlong in :12.40.

    “He did it very easy,” said Theriot.  “He came off the track bouncing.”

    “The horse looked perfect – he did just what I asked,” said trainer Chip Woolley.  “Jamie did a good job on him. He started off a little slow and picked it up all the way.  It looked like he got the last eighth in :11-and-two and he was :12-and-two past the wire in another eighth, so he looked sharp.  That was what we were looking for.”

    Mine That Bird is training toward a run in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (Grade II) at Mountaineer on Aug. 1.  That race would be his first since a third-place run behind Summer Bird in the Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 6.

    The Kentucky Derby winner is scheduled to work again on Monday, July 13 and could remain in his familiar surroundings at Churchill Downs until just before race day at the West Virginia track.

    “I haven’t decided for sure if I’ll take him and work him one time at Mountaineer right before the race or just stay here and go into the race from here,” Woolley said.  “Either way, the horse is doing good and is ready to roll.”

    A Triple Crown run that included his win in the Kentucky Derby, a runner-up finish to Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness (GI) and his third-place run in the Belmont Stakes left Mine That Bird’s record at 5-2-1 in 11 races with earnings of $2,121,581.