Mine That Bird, Hold Me Back in Travers Works

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird turned in his final workout for the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I) when he breezed a half-mile in :49.76 over the fast main track at Saratoga on Aug. 25.

The workout, 32nd fastest of the day among 59 horses working that distance, was the first for the gelding since he underwent minor surgery a week earlier to repair an entrapped epiglottis. Trainer Chip Woolley had reported Monday that the son of Birdstone   was "100%" ready for the $1-million Travers.

Also working toward the Travers on the morning of Aug. 25 was Hold Me Back, who went five furlongs in 1:00.45, the eighth fastest of 33 working the distance.

The Travers marks a return to dirt for the Bill Mott trainee, who finished fifth in the July 18 Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) at Colonial Downs. Previously, he won the Lane’s End (gr. II) and finished second in the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) before a 12th-place effort in the Kentucky Derby.