(From Ruidoso Downs)
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird worked one-half mile in :48 on Sept. 7 at Ruidoso Downs, continuing his preparations for the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 7 Tree at Santa Anita.
Trainer Chip Woolley clocked the gelding working the first quarter in :25, the second quarter in :23 and galloping out the six furlongs in 1:11.
“It was a hair sharper than what I wanted. I was hoping for :49,” Woolley said. “We wanted a maintenance work and we’re pleased.”
Jorge Martin Bourdieu was aboard the gelding who was second in the Preakness (gr. I) and third in Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The jockey had worked the gelding at Sunland Park this spring before he shipped to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, which he won at 50-1 odds.
“He’s a lot sharper than before he went to the Derby,” Bourdieu said. “He’s improved a lot. Chip and his crew have done a great job with him.
“I think the (recent throat) surgery really helped him. He feels strong and is getting a lot of air. He was nickering come back (from the work); it didn’t take anything out of him.”
Mine The Bird will lead the post parade Sept. 7 at Ruidoso Downs. He will appear at an open house at co-owner Mark Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, New Mexico on Sept. 10 and then ship to Southern California.
He is on schedule to race in the $350,000 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) on Oct. 10 at Santa Anita Park.