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Mine That Bird works for possible Travers start Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) breezed a half-mile Tuesday morning at Saratoga Race Course for the first time since undergoing minor throat surgery last week, and the next 24 hours will determine whether he will run in Saturday's $1 million Travers S. (G1). "Doc (Dr. James Hunt) is happy with the way he looked today," said trainer Chip Woolley of Mine That Bird, who had an entrapped epiglottis repaired last Tuesday at the Ruffian Equine Medical Center next to Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. "He'll look at it again (Wednesday) morning, and we'll make a final decision. "If we irritated his throat today...and it looks bad, we won't run him," Woolley added. "If he's not irritated in the morning, you have to feel like he's doing OK. It's just that simple. We're not going to take chances with him. If we see something in there we don't like, we're not going to run." With Jamie Theriot aboard and owners Dr. Leonard Blach and Mark Allen looking on, the gelded son of 2004 Travers winner Birdstone worked over the main track after the renovation break. Clockers for The New York Racing Association caught him going a half-mile in :49.76 over the fast track. Woolley had him going five furlongs in 1:01 4/5, galloping out in 1:14 4/5. "His work was pretty nice, we couldn't ask for much more right now," Woolley said. "He looked really strong and the numbers show he's striding right on out past the wire. That part of it I have no problem with; we just don't want to do anything with him that might be detrimental down the road, long-term. He's got to come first. "He's galloped strong, but this is the first time we put the hammer down on him and let him stress," the conditioner added. "We have to make sure he's 100 percent. He's too important to us and too important to the racing community right now." Woolley said a contingency plan had not yet been drafted for Mine That Bird if he skips the 1 1/4-mile Travers, but ruled out a start in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) at Philadelphia Park on September 7. On that day, Mine That Bird is scheduled to lead the post parade for the $2 million All America Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in his home base in New Mexico. Seven others are pointing to the Travers, including Belmont S. (G1) winner SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone); Grade 1 hero QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality), the record-setting winner of the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam (G2) on August 3 off a lengthy layoff; Jim Dandy (G2) victor KENSEI (Mr. Greeley); multiple Grade 2 winner CHARITABLE MAN (Lemon Drop Kid); Jim Dandy runner-up WARRIOR'S REWARD (Medaglia d'Oro); Barbaro S. (G3) king OUR EDGE (The Cliff's Edge), who has captured his last three starts under the direction of Nick Zito; and the Grade 2-winning HOLD ME BACK (Giant's Causeway), who received his final Travers tune-up when breezing five furlongs in 1:00.45 on Tuesday morning, the eighth fastest of 33 workers at the distance.
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