Mine That Bird works for Preakness; rival owners won't block Rachel Alexandra

Mine That Bird works for Preakness; rival owners won't

block Rachel Alexandra

Mine That Bird will try to prove that his Derby upset was no fluke (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs) Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. waited until after the renovation break to send Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) to the track Monday morning at Churchill Downs. That signaled the trip was not business as usual -- no two-mile gallop under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa. "Are you working?" Woolley was asked upon arrival at a viewing stand. "No. I'm just going to let him stretch his legs for a half-mile and let him finish the last eighth with Calvin (Borel) on him," Woolley said. As Mine That Bird back-tracked to the paddock runway, Derby 135 runner-up PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker) appeared on the scene heading in the same direction.

"Are they going to work together?" one onlooker queried.

"They better not be," Woolley said with a laugh.

Soon after, Mine That Bird came into view and went about his business, which

was duly recorded as a half-mile work in :49 1/5 with fractions of :12 4/5, :25

1/5, :37 and out five-eighths in 1:02 4/5 over the fast track. The move ranked

as the 17th fastest of 48 at the distance.

"That was no work for him," Woolley said. "He didn't flare a nostril coming

back. Calvin did a great job."

Woolley had intended to jog Mine That Bird in the morning before leaving for

Pimlico.

"This way, I'll be able to walk tomorrow and then get back on the

track Wednesday at Pimlico," Woolley said. "I would have possibly missed a day, so it

worked better this way to do what we did."

Borel, who won his second Kentucky Derby aboard Mine That Bird, would ride

Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) if she runs in

Saturday's Preakness S. (G1), leaving Woolley without a rider.

"Calvin has first call," Woolley said. "Mike Smith has agreed to be the

backup and he will be there to ride him (if Rachel Alexandra runs)."

Smith, who rode Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]) to a fifth-place finish

behind Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby, won the 1993 Preakness on Derby

runner-up Prairie Bayou.

Woolley said he hopes to have everything loaded and ready to go for a 9 a.m.

(EDT) departure Tuesday for Pimlico.

Mark Allen, who along with Dr. Leonard Blach owns Mine That Bird in the

partnership of Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, said that Indy

Express (A.P. Indy), whom he owns as part of Fourteen Enterprises, would remain

at Churchill Downs and point for a race Friday.

Trained by Joe Merrick, Indy Express had been considered as a possible

Preakness starter by Allen, who nixed the idea Sunday night. Indy Express is

winless in nine starts. Indy Express worked five furlongs in 1:02 under Joe

Johnson about the same time Mine That Bird went through his paces.

Pioneerof the Nile is spoiling for a rematch (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs) Pioneerof the Nile, winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) two back, was sharp in his final major training move for the Preakness as he worked four furlongs in :47 3/5. Joe Steiner was aboard for the move, which was the fourth-fastest of 48 at the distance. Pioneerof the Nile covered the distance in fractions of :12 1/5, :24 1/5 and :36 1/5, then galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 and six furlongs in 1:14 2/5. The clocking of Pioneerof the Nile's gallop-out for five furlongs would have tied as the fastest work of the day at that distance. Trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and four-time Preakness winner, watched the work from the Churchill Downs clubhouse with Zayat Stables owner Ahmed Zayat. "I liked what I saw," Baffert said. "He bounced out of that race well. He was full of himself and he really wanted to work. He looked great. I look for him to come back and run another big race."

Baffert said he is looking forward to saddling Pioneerof the Nile for a

rematch with longshot Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and a first meeting

with Rachel Alexandra, who is expected

to be made a supplemental entry to the 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple

Crown.

"I think it's going to be a really exciting race," Baffert said. "She's a

great filly, but I think we have a great horse. There's some other horses in

there that are pretty good -- MUSKET MAN (Yonaguska), PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike)

and the Derby winner.

"There are going to be a lot of questions answered in the Preakness and

that's what it's all about. We'll just see what happens, but we looked great

today. I really liked what I saw."

The way looks clear for Rachel Alexandra to get into the Preakness (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Baffert downplayed Sunday's controversy over the prospect that some owners, including Zayat, might enter other horses in the Preakness in an effort to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the race. "That's no issue -- that was something that was just being mulled around and never really got any legs," he said. "I think it stems from Calvin Borel -- I've never seen a jockey take off a Derby winner. So that's where it all started. But it's dead -- it's a dead issue, so we won't even talk about it." Baffert does have experience running a high quality filly against colts in the spring classics. He saddled Excellent Meeting for a fifth-place finish behind Charismatic in the 1999 Kentucky Derby, and then sent out Kentucky Oaks winner Silverbulletday in that year's Belmont S. (G1). Silverbulletday will joint racing's Hall of Fame this year with her trainer, but she faltered in the homestretch of that running of the Belmont to finish seventh behind the victorious Lemon Drop Kid. "I was mad at myself for doing that," Baffert said of Silverbulletday's classic run against colts. "It just takes a lot out of them. The classics are so tempting. That's probably why they (former owner Dolphus Morrison and trainer Hal Wiggins) never nominated Rachel Alexandra." But Baffert said the talented Rachel Alexandra could have some advantages against males that could set her apart.

"With her style of running she probably has a better chance because she's out

there away from the action," he said. "If she was a come-from-behind type, it's

harder on them. I think the Belmont would probably suit her. She'd get out there

with that long stride and cruise around there.

"But it (Rachel Alexandra's presence in the Preakness) brings a lot to the

race. It's gonna be exciting, it's gonna be big. It's gonna be just as big as

the Derby, having a great filly like that run with these colts. You've got the

Derby winner and you've got all these horses, so it's gonna be a big field --

but you still need a lot of luck. But I'm really excited about it and it's gonna

be a great day for racing.

General Quarters, shown galloping before the Derby, pleased his new exercise rider (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) "Now that we can't go for the Triple Crown, we're running for glory now and that's what it's all about. There's no shame in running second in the Derby, but there's no glory. Now we get a chance to redeem ourselves." Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy was looking for something in the 50- to 51-second range for a half-mile from GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) on Monday morning and he wasn't sure he got it. "I'll say :52," McCarthy said. "He started off a little slow." "Fifty and one (-fifth)," came the report. "Perfect. Looks like he finished up better than he started," McCarthy said. "That was just enough to put him on the van and go on over (to Pimlico)." Clockers caught General Quarters in splits of :12 3/5, :25, :37 2/5 and out in 1:04 3/5 under exercise rider Justin Court in the move accomplished before the 8 a.m. renovation break. The move was the 28th best of 48 at the distance.

"It was the first time I had worked the horse and I was impressed with him,"

Court said. "I had a lot of horse and I think he will do well over there."

General Quarters, the 10th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled

to leave Churchill Downs on Tuesday before training hours begin at 6 a.m.

Flying Private (outside) hopes to rebound from a last-place finish in the Derby (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs) FLYING PRIVATE (Fusaichi Pegasus) also tuned up for his expected engagement in the Preakness by working a half-mile in :48 1/5 in company with stablemate Sea Admiral (Distorted Humor) after the renovation break Monday morning. With jockey Jamie Theriot aboard, Flying Private clicked off fractions of :12 4/5, :24 4/5 and :36 1/5 en route to the :48 1/5 clocking that was the ninth best of 48 at the distance. Flying Private left his workmate seven lengths behind at the wire. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he was satisfied with the move and that Flying Private and four other horses from his barn would leave for Pimlico at 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

Alan Garcia has the Preakness mount on Flying Private, who finished 19th in

the Kentucky Derby.

At Pimlico, meanwhile, jockey John Velazquez and BIG DRAMA (Montbrook) got

acquainted Monday morning during a four-furlong workout that was timed in :50

over the fast track. The pair galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.

Although the clocking wasn't eye-catching, Velazquez was suitably impressed.

Big Drama and John Velazquez get acquainted (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club) "He did everything very, very easy. I just wanted to get a little feel for him. He was going to the pole a little bit strong, so I wanted to be a little cautious with him. The race is pretty close right now," the New York-based jockey said. "The reason I started slow was because he was going strong to the (half-mile) pole. I didn't want him to do too much. If I let him go too fast the first part, I'd have no control of him. I wanted to have control of him to have him do what I wanted him to do, not him controlling me," added Velazquez, who inherited his Preakness mount when Eibar Coa opted to stick with Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Musket Man. Big Drama, who made a little jump over a spot in the track at the top of the stretch that had different harrow marks than the rest of the track, otherwise appeared to move well over the Pimlico racing surface. "He didn't want to leave his race on the track. I'd rather have (50 seconds) than go out there and go 46 (seconds) and get sick to your stomach," trainer David Fawkes said. "He galloped out good. He's fit. It was just maintenance."

Two Preakness probables who worked Sunday morning at Churchill Downs remained

in the barn Monday morning.

TERRAIN (Sky Mesa), who worked five furlongs in 1:02 3/5, is scheduled to

return to the track Tuesday morning. His connections decided Monday to offer

Jeremy Rose the Preakness mount. Trainer Al Stall Jr. said he was looking for

some "local knowledge" while zeroing in on Rose, who has enjoyed considerable

success on the Maryland circuit and visited the Pimlico winner's circle with

Afleet Alex following his victory in the 2005 middle jewel of the Triple Crown..

"Jeremy rides well and he's won the race," Stall said.

Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra had worked a half-mile in :48 2/5 and

had a quiet Monday morning while walking the shedrow at new trainer Steve Asmussen's

barn at Churchill Downs.

"She came out of her work in good order," said Scott Blasi, a top assistant

to Asmussen. "Physically she looks beautiful."

Blasi said Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to be shipped from Louisville to

Baltimore Wednesday on a charter flight.

In other Preakness news:

The connections of HULL (Holy Bull), the least-experienced prospect for the Preakness, decided on Monday to withdraw the colt from the Preakness field.

"When I committed to run in the race, I liked the way it was setting up,"

co-owner Barry Irwin of Team Valor International said. "I think the pace is

going to be too hot. I don't like the way it's shaping up for our horse. It's

going to be our horse's first time around two turns, and I just think there's

too much speed in there and I'm not comfortable."

The unbeaten colt won the Derby Trial (G3) in his last start, only the third

of his career. Irwin said they would run Hull in the Woody Stephens S. (G2) on

the Belmont undercard on June 6.

"I'd like to be able to run him in the Preakness, but I don't want to screw

the horse up," Irwin said. "He's only run three times, so I don't want to mess

him up."

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas reported LUV GOV (Ten Most Wanted) was still on course

for the Preakness. However, Lukas said the colt will not be entered if his

presence would have an impact on Rachel Alexandra being able to compete in the

race. He said it was never his intention to enter a second horse to block the

filly from being in the field.

"Let me make this crystal clear, there is no controversy," Lukas said. "We

entered and I told Coley Blind, the stakes coordinator, that we would enter only

if there was no controversy with the filly and we did not exclude her. If in any

way, shape or form she is excluded because of our entry, then we will not enter.

We are not trying to keep the filly out.

"We're only entering if there is a hole open in the 14th gate. We are not

trying to keep the filly from running. If she is excluded by Luv Gov, he will

not run. (Owner) Marylou Whitney, with her status in racing and what she has

meant to the industry, has no interest in causing a controversy in the

Preakness.

"If we make the 14th horse, we'll enter. If for some reason between now and

Wednesday's draw, if somebody else enters and it eliminates the filly, we will

not enter."

Luv Gov walked the shedrow Monday at Churchill Downs, the morning after he

worked a half-mile.

"He had a nice breeze Sunday, probably one of the best of the spring for

him," Lukas said.

Papa Clem, pictured at Churchill, is already on the grounds at Pimlico (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) No rider has been named for Luv Gov, who will be shipped to Pimlico Tuesday along with Flying Private. Trainer Derek Ryan sent out Illinois Derby (G2) winner Musket Man for a 1 3/4-mile gallop Monday morning at Monmouth Park, where he'll get a final half-mile workout on Tuesday morning. "He's doing fine," said Ryan, a native of Ireland and a former assistant to Joe Orseno, who trained 2000 Preakness winner Red Bullet. Papa Clem, the Arkansas Derby (G2) winner and one of only two Preakness candidates in the Pimlico Stakes Barn, galloped over the Pimlico track for the first time Monday and will be sent out for a five-furlong breeze on Tuesday. FRIESAN FIRE (A.P. Indy) arrived by van at Pimlico Monday shortly before 2 p.m. The Louisiana Derby (G2) winner was accompanied by his groom, Cory York, who reported that all went well during the short van ride from trainer Larry Jones' Delaware Park barn.

TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score) jogged a mile Monday morning at Belmont

Park, a day after he completed a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.

"We were very happy with his breeze," said Jonathan Thomas, an assistant to

trainer Todd Pletcher. "It was a standard breeze and he appeared to come out of

it pretty well."

Shipping plans from New York to Baltimore have not been finalized. Hall of

Fame jockey Edgar Prado will ride the speedy colt, who will compete in blinkers

for the first time.

Federico Tesio S. third-place finisher TONE IT DOWN (Medaglia d'Oro) galloped

1 1/2 miles at trainer Bill Komlo's home base at Laurel. Komlo said he is

mulling the possibility of a final workout Tuesday or Wednesday.