Mine That Bird arrives at Pimlico

The traditional police escort for the Derby winner greeted Woolley and Mine That Bird (Jerry Dzierwinski/Maryland Jockey Club)

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) arrived at

Pimlico ahead of schedule Tuesday with a Baltimore City Police escort at

6:44 p.m. (EDT) after leaving Churchill Downs at 9:06 a.m.

"I called a friend on the way and said it's the first time I've had

the police leading me instead of chasing me," quipped trainer Bennie

"Chip" Woolley Jr., who drove all the way in the Ford F-450 Lariat that

towed the gleaming white van carrying his Kentucky Derby winner.

The Baltimore City police met Mine That Bird, Woolley and groom

Charlie Figueroa, at the intersection of Interstate 70 and the Baltimore

Beltway (I-695), clearing the way for a non-stop finish to the trip that

took less than 10 hours.

The New Mexico-based trainer, who saddled Mine That Bird for a

stunning 50-1 upset by 6 3/4 lengths in the Run for the Roses on May 2,

reported that the van ride went "as smooth as silk" for the bay gelding,

who will return to action in Saturday's 134th running of the Preakness

S. (G1).

"He was calm all the way; ate his feed, cleaned up good; drank all

his water," said Woolley, a first-time visitor to Maryland.

The 45-year-old trainer allowed Mine That Bird to pose for photographers and

cameramen for 15 minutes outside the Pimlico Stakes Barn only minutes after

arriving. The Kentucky-bred horse stood calmly, unfazed by the frantic chorus of

clicking camera shutters.

Woolley seemed as relaxed as his colt just 10 days

after running off with the Derby and four days before an attempt to add the

Preakness on his unlikely Triple Crown campaign.

Mine That Bird surveyed Pimlico when he arrived Tuesday (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club)

Mine That Bird will bedded down in Stall 40, the traditional stall

reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner in the Preakness Stakes Barn.

Woolley will meet with the media at 8 a.m. on Thursday and Friday.

GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) had an eventful journey that began at 5

a.m. from Churchill Downs and concluded an hour past schedule at 4:45

p.m. due to his van's involvement in a minor traffic accident near

Pimlico.

Van driver Maurice Poe missed the stable gate and was heading

for the entrance to Interstate 83 when his van was clipped on the

driver's side by another vehicle as he attempted to find his way back to

Pimlico. Fortunately, Poe, groom Billy Bass, General Quarters and

another unidentified Thoroughbred passenger were uninjured.

"He's fine," said owner/trainer Tom McCarthy, who left the track to

investigate. "I think I'm more upset than he is. There was hardly any

damage to the van."

"It was pretty scary," Bass said. "But he held all right. It didn't

throw him around, just the feed."