Mine That Bird Works Five Furlongs in 1:02 Under Borel

Jun 08, 2010 John Asher

MINE THAT BIRD WORKS FIVE FURLONGS IN 1:02 UNDER BOREL -- Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, worked five furlongs in 1:02 after the renovation break under jockey Calvin Borel.

Working over a fast track, Mine That Bird posted fractions of :13, :37.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:17.20. The five-furlong time was the 12th fastest of 26 at the distance.

'He didn't go too quick, which was fine because we are just trying to get a good bottom in him,' trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. 'Calvin's got a good clock in his head and he handled him perfectly this morning.'
It was the third recorded work for Mine That Bird since arriving in the Lukas barn on May 20. Owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird worked three furlongs in :35.20 under Dominic Terry on May 26 and then on June 2 worked a half-mile in :48 under Borel.

'He went good this morning, just like Mr. Lukas wanted,' said Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to his Kentucky Derby victory. 'I see a big change in him from (age) three to four. I think he has put on 150 pounds. He's a big horse now.'

STEPHEN FOSTER HOPEFULS ARRIVE FOR SATURDAY'S TEST -- Oaklawn Handicap (GII) winner Duke of Mischief arrived at Churchill Downs at 6 o'clock Tuesday morning after vanning from Calder Race Course. Trainer David Fawkes said the 4-year-old would go to the track in the morning unless it was raining.
Two other hopefuls for Saturday's $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) arrived Monday and trained over the track Tuesday morning: Overbrook Farm's New Orleans Handicap (GII) winner Battle Plan and Fox Hill Farms' Honest Man.

Scheduled to arrive Wednesday is No Advantage, who was second in his most recent start to possible Stephen Foster favorite Blame in the W.D. Schaefer Stakes (GIII) at Pimlico on May 15.

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Tuesday, June 08, 2010
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BARN TALK -- The three Louisville-based runners from Saturday's Belmont Stakes (GI) returned to their home bases on Monday.

Donald Dizney's First Dude, third in the Belmont after a runner-up finish in the Preakness (GI) for trainer Dale Romans, has the Aug. 28 Travers (GI) at Saratoga targeted as his next main objective.

Stay Put, who finished 6 ¾ lengths behind Drosselmeyer and was placed fifth after the disqualification of Uptowncharlybrown, will be given a little break according to trainer Steve Margolis.

'I don't have any plans for him yet,' Margolis said. 'There are a lot of options out there and it depends on which way they (owners Bertram, Richard and Elaine Klein) want to go.'

Trainer Mike Maker said that 'probably the Virginia Derby' would be next for Thomas and Jack Conway's Stately Victor, who was placed seventh in the Belmont.

The $600,000 Virginia Derby (GII) at Colonial Downs is July 17 and would mark a return to the grass for Stately Victor, who broke his maiden on the lawn at Saratoga last September.

Maker also said that Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Dean's Kitten, who was 14th in the Kentucky Derby, is on track for a start next Saturday, June 19 at Colonial in the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (GII) at 1 3/16 miles.
Another Maker runner returning to the turf is the Ramseys' Furthest Land. Winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (GI) last fall at Santa Anita and most recently 14th in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (GI), Furthest Land is entered in Friday night's Opening Verse overnight stake at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

The Opening Verse will be the first grass start for Furthest Land since finishing eighth behind Einstein in the 2009 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI).

WORK TAB -- Cash Refund, third in the Aristides (GIII) in his most recent start, worked a half-mile on the fast main track in :48.60, third fastest of 38 at the distance.

Among the notable five-furlong works on a firm turf course was the 1:01.20 bullet put up by third-place Kentucky Derby finisher Paddy O'Prado with Tammy Fox up. Jefferson Cup (GIII) probable Our Douglas worked the distance in 1:02.20 and stablemate Snow Top Mountain worked in 1:04.20 in preparation for the Regret (GIII).