Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird, winless since his huge 50-1 upset victory in the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:00 at Churchill Downs Oct. 25.
Working with graded stakes winner Be Fair, Mine That Bird began on even terms with his workmate, opened a clear advantage at the head of the stretch and finished four lengths in front in producing the best time of 32 horses working at the distance. Fractions were :12, :23 2/5, :35, :47, with a gallop out time of 1:15 4/5 for six furlongs. Exercise rider Arielle Witkowski was aboard.
Mine That Bird has been with Lukas for five months and had three starts in 2010--a failed comeback race on the turf in the Firecracker Handicap (gr. IIT) in July and two off-the-board finishes at Saratoga in the Whitney (gr. I) and Woodward (gr. I).
Lukas said the 4-year-old gelding who won the Derby for trainer Chip Woolley was pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) to be run Nov. 6. Mine That Bird also is nominated to the Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) to be run Nov. 5 at 1 1/16 miles, which would be the backup plan should he not be selected for the Dirt Mile if that race is over-subscribed.
