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Mine That Bird to get an eight-week vacation

Mine That Bird will receive a well-deserved break following his grueling Triple Crown campaign (EquiSport Photos) While the mood at the barn of Kentucky Derby (G1) hero MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) on Sunday morning was somewhat subdued, the gelding himself showed no signs of exhaustion for his impressive effort running third in the Belmont S. (G1) on Saturday. "He feels awful good this morning," trainer Chip Woolley said. "Awful bright and bouncing -- he's ready to get out and go do something." One look at the little gelding walking around the barn, peering inquisitively at the small crowd gathered outside bore this statement out. His trainer, stretched out in a lawn chair complete with footrest and cup holder for coffee, admitted a touch of fatigue. "Talk about whipped," Woolley said. "About halfway through dinner last night I just said 'Guys, I'm done,' and I'm not that type at all. I couldn't believe how I hit a wall last night. I never thought I'd be sitting here sort of down about running third in the Belmont -- this has been a lifetime dream." Although he is understandably disappointed by the loss, Woolley keeps it in perspective.

"When he was making for the lead as they turned for home, I was thinking 'We're in trouble,'" Woolley said. "It was just too early to make the lead here and I was really concerned we'd used a little too much horse in the turn. If you move too early with this horse, his past history shows he comes up empty. Tim (Ice, trainer of winner Summer Bird [Birdstone]) is a great guy and he deserves to win. He's done a nice job with his horse."

Mine That Bird may not have come home a winner on Saturday, but his trainer is as impressed as ever with the son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone.

"There's only one three-year-old this year who made it through all three of these races and was right there all three times," Woolley said. "The horse showed up every time. He's the same horse he was when I led him over to the Derby and I'm in love with what I saw here."

Mine That Bird will ship back to Churchill Downs at 6 a.m. (EDT) Monday, and Woolley said they planned to spend the week in Kentucky. He added that he is still discussing Mine That Bird's future with owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach. He hopes to get two good races into the gelding before the Breeders' Cup in November.

"We'll see what fits his schedule best," Woolley said. "I'd rather keep him on dirt and against other three-year-olds. It may be a couple of days before we make a hard decision, and we'll definitely for sure give him eight weeks off now. There's a lot of opportunity out here (on the East Coast) more than anything out West, even in California."

Woolley named the August 1 Jim Dandy S. (G2) or the August 29 Travers S. (G1) at Saratoga Race Course among the options he was considering for Mine That Bird, but said the welfare of the horse would dictate his next move.

More Triple Crown News & Notes:

American Pharaoh back at Churchill, to parade Stephen Foster night

Zayat, Baffert hail Triple Crown champion American Pharoah

Espinoza's schedule remains packed; McAnally reminisces on past TC winners

Baffert: American Pharoah is 'my best hope for the Triple Crown'

Pletcher reminisces on past Belmont victories

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