Mine That Bird breezes six furlongs; Lukas ponders options

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was all smiles after the work, the fifth for

Mine That Bird since joining the Lukas barn on May 20. The four-year-old

gelding hasn't started since finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup

Classic (G1).

"When they started training horses 300 years ago, this is what they had in

mind," Lukas said. "His last quarter was in 23 and 2 and his last eighth, it had

to be 11 and change. He was flying."

There is an allowance optional claiming race in the condition book for which

Mine That Bird fits for July 3 and Lukas also has nominated Mine That Bird to

the Firecracker H. (G2) on grass for closing day, July 4. Lukas has not

committed to a start in either spot.

"I am not sure where we'll go," Lukas said. "He is nominated to the

($250,000) Salvatore Mile (G3) (at a mile on July 3 at Monmouth), which is a

nice option. He is nominated to everything but the Tokyo Fair. Our goal is the

Whitney (G1) (on August 7 at Saratoga). We are going to dive right into the deep

end."