Mine That Bird, winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), registered his first workout at Santa Anita Park Sept. 29 when he drilled five furlongs under Joe Talamo in 1:01.80 in preparation for the $350,000 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 10.
As trainer Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr. and media members looked on, the 3-year-old gelding by Birdstone walked to the Pro-Ride synthetic main track at 8:05 a.m. PDT and jogged counter-clockwise on the outer rail under Talamo, who deputized for regular rider Calvin Borel.
Mine That Bird turned around at the half-mile pole and then galloped comfortably down the stretch and past the finish line to the clubhouse turn. Approaching the backstretch, Talamo angled Mine That Bird to the rail.
“I told Joe to just ease him off from the pole and that’s what he did,” Woolley said. “I told him the main thing is, that last sixteenth (of a mile) to gig him a little and let him bounce to the wire. It went just right. I had him in 1:01 and change, and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.
“He has gone to the track every morning since we’ve been here, and I really like the way he’s striding out on this racetrack. We’re real happy with the Pro-Ride here. It seems really kind and he’s getting a good hold of it.”
Woolley indicated Mine That Bird would work again in a week.
The Goodwood Stakes is a “Win and You’re In” event, so the winner gets a berth in the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita. In addition to Mine That Bird, Chocolate Candy, Colonel John, Parading, Tiago, and Richard's Kid are listed as possible Goodwood starters.
