Classic Still in Plans for Mine That Bird

(Edited Oak Tree notes)

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird will remain at Santa Anita and point to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Oak Tree on Nov. 7, trainer Chip Woolley said Monday morning.

"We were disappointed with his race in the Goodwood Stakes (sixth, beaten about four lengths), but now that I’ve had a chance to sleep on it and talk things over with the owners, we’re going to the Breeders’ Cup Classic," Woolley said.

Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to his Derby triumph, and was reunited with the gelding for the Goodwood, has the mount in the Classic, in which Woolley expects more favorable conditions for the 3-year-old son of Birdstone.

"You can’t get that far out of it when the pace is that slow," he said. "My horse closed, and he ran pretty fast when you go back and analyze the race. My horse finished up the last five-eighths in :58, but what are you gonna do? The other ones aren’t slowing down, when they go a :48.54 half. I’ll bet you there’s not a Grade I in the country run that slow for the first half mile all year--not on a fast race track."

Mine That Bird jogged one mile Monday and will have "at least two, maybe three" breezes before the $5 million Classic at 1 1/4 miles, Woolley said. "The horse is real happy today. He wants to play a little.".