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Mine That Bird arrives at Santa Anita

Mine That Bird and Calvin Borel will reunite for the Goodwood (EquiSport Photos) Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) arrived Friday at Santa Anita by van from New Mexico at 2 a.m. (PDT) and jogged one mile over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride at 8 a.m. in preparation for Oak Tree's $350,000 Goodwood S. (G1) on October 10. Mine That Bird trained Friday morning under the watchful eye of trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley. "He's doing good, real good," Woolley said from beneath his trademark black, felt-tipped cowboy hat. As is his custom, Woolley himself hauled the three-year-old gelding from his New Mexico base. "It was a typical transport and he settled in well," he said. "He didn't eat all his feed, but that's not out of the norm for him. He ate good and drank good, so that's all right." Woolley, who is still walking with the aid of crutches due to a badly right broken leg sustained in a motorcycle accident in February, noted that Mine That Bird will have two workouts at Santa Anita prior to the 1 1/8-mile Goodwood, but he was uncertain as to when the first work would take place. "I haven't really scheduled them yet," Woolley admitted. "I'll decide in the next couple of days. He will breeze on Monday or Tuesday, and then of course, (again) the following Monday or Tuesday, and then he runs." Mine That Bird's ultimate goal at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting is the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 7, but should he win the Goodwood, he would become only the third Kentucky Derby winner to also take the Goodwood, joining Derby-winning alums Ferdinand and Silver Charm, who both completed the double as four-year-olds in 1987 and '98, respectively.

Although he is winless in three starts since shocking the racing world at 50-1 on Derby Day, Mine That Bird ran a fast-finishing second behind super filly Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Preakness S. (G1) and finished a respectable third in the Belmont S. (G1). In his most recent start, Mine That Bird finished third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the West Virginia Derby (G2).

Even though Mine That Bird was 12th and last in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Woolley has no reservations about returning to Santa Anita's synthetic surface.

"He won four in a row on synthetic (Polytrack) at Woodbine and he ran respectable in the Breeders' Cup last year," Woolley said. "He came up a little empty here in the Juvenile, but I'm kind of sure he'll handle it OK. He kind of seems to carry his race track with him wherever he goes. We haven't run into one he didn't like yet."

Calvin Borel, who skimmed the Churchill Downs rail when producing the Derby shocker, will be back aboard Mine That Bird for the Goodwood. Although Borel took off the Derby winner to stay with Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, he was back aboard the Woolley trainee for his third-place finish in the Belmont. Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith rode Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby and in the Preakness.

Owned by Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach, Mine That Bird's record now stands at 12-5-2-2, with earnings of $2,196,581.

In addition to Mine That Bird, dual Grade 1 king COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow), multiple Grade 1 victor TIAGO (Pleasant Tap), last-out Pacific Classic (G1) shocker RICHARD'S KID (Lemon Drop Kid), Grade 2 hero PARADING (Pulpit) and Grade 3 winner CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) are all listed as possible Goodwood starters.

The Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting will get underway on Wednesday, with first post time at 1 p.m.

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