Mine That Bird works @ Santa Anita; scheduled to run in Goodwood
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from Oak Tree Racing:
ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 29, 2009)Mine That Bird, upset winner of this years Kentucky Derby, registered his first workout at Santa Anita Tuesday morning, drilling five furlongs under Joe Talamo in 1:01.80 in preparation for Oak Trees Gr. I, $350,000 Goodwood Stakes Oct. 10.
As trainer Bennie Chip Woolley and a gaggle of media looked on, the 3-year-old gelding by Birdstone walked to Santa Anitas Pro-Ride synthetic main track at 8:05 a.m. and jogged counter-clockwise on the outer rail under Talamo, who deputized Tuesday morning for regular rider Calvin Borel.
Mine That Bird and Talamo turned around at the half-mile pole and then galloped comfortably down the stretch and past the finish line to the Club House turn. As he entered the backstretch, Talamo angled the Derby winner to the rail approaching the five furlong pole.
I told Joe to just ease him off from the pole and thats what he did, said Woolley. I told him the main thing is, that last sixteenth (of a mile) to gig him a little and let him bounce to the wire. It went just right. I had him in 1:01 and change and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.
Hes gone to the track every morning since weve been here (Friday) and I really like the way hes striding out on this racetrack. Were real happy with the Pro-Ride here. It seems really kind and hes getting a good hold of it, he added.
Talamo, fresh off a late-night appearance on Conan OBriens Tonight Show, was impressed with the Derby winner. I was really looking forward to coming out and working this horse and Im glad I did, said Talamo. Hes very professional and he did just exactly what Mr. Woolley told me he would. He went off real easy and then around the (far) turn he went to picking it up. Hes a small horse, but when he gets into stride he really covers a lot of ground.
Mr. Woolley obviously knows him better than anyone, but Id have to think hes sitting on a big race. He just seemed effortless this morning. He seems to do things very easily. What a classy horse, he added.
As for Mine That Birds next work, Woolley indicated the last-to-first winner of the Derby would come back in one week. Well see how he comes out of this and well just walk him tomorrow. If everything remains fine, the plan is to come back and work five eighths next Tuesday. Hes training good and Im glad we got out here early. Hes acclimated beautifully, said Woolley.
In addition to Mine That Bird, Chocolate Candy, Colonel John, Parading, Tiago and Richards Kid are all listed as possible Goodwood Starters.
The Goodwood Stakes is a Breeders Cup Win and Youre In race and the winner will be automatically eligible to run in the Gr. I, $5 million Breeders Cup Classic Nov. 7.
Looking past the Oct. 10 Goodwood, Woolley is optimistic about his horses chances in the mile and a quarter Breeders Cup Classic. A big field with lots of speed is excellent for him, said Woolley. That would set up good for him and give him a chance to close. Thats his game and thats what were looking for. The good thing out here (Southern California) is, theres always plenty of pace--always. Although Mine That Bird finished last in a field of 12 in last years Breeders Cup Juvenile at Oak Tree, Woolley is inclined to dismiss that result.
He won four straight races on Polytrack at Woodbine last year, and he handled the synthetic here well last year, Woolley said. The situation was, we bought the horse late last year and we got him out a little late for Dick (Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who saddled Mine That Bird for the Juvenile). We just didnt really have enough time with him.
He didnt get a very good trip in the Juvenile. He was wide all the way around there and he pressed the pace. This year, well change things up. Hopefully, itll work, he added.
ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 29, 2009)Mine That Bird, upset winner of this years Kentucky Derby, registered his first workout at Santa Anita Tuesday morning, drilling five furlongs under Joe Talamo in 1:01.80 in preparation for Oak Trees Gr. I, $350,000 Goodwood Stakes Oct. 10.
As trainer Bennie Chip Woolley and a gaggle of media looked on, the 3-year-old gelding by Birdstone walked to Santa Anitas Pro-Ride synthetic main track at 8:05 a.m. and jogged counter-clockwise on the outer rail under Talamo, who deputized Tuesday morning for regular rider Calvin Borel.
Mine That Bird and Talamo turned around at the half-mile pole and then galloped comfortably down the stretch and past the finish line to the Club House turn. As he entered the backstretch, Talamo angled the Derby winner to the rail approaching the five furlong pole.
I told Joe to just ease him off from the pole and thats what he did, said Woolley. I told him the main thing is, that last sixteenth (of a mile) to gig him a little and let him bounce to the wire. It went just right. I had him in 1:01 and change and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.
Hes gone to the track every morning since weve been here (Friday) and I really like the way hes striding out on this racetrack. Were real happy with the Pro-Ride here. It seems really kind and hes getting a good hold of it, he added.
Talamo, fresh off a late-night appearance on Conan OBriens Tonight Show, was impressed with the Derby winner. I was really looking forward to coming out and working this horse and Im glad I did, said Talamo. Hes very professional and he did just exactly what Mr. Woolley told me he would. He went off real easy and then around the (far) turn he went to picking it up. Hes a small horse, but when he gets into stride he really covers a lot of ground.
Mr. Woolley obviously knows him better than anyone, but Id have to think hes sitting on a big race. He just seemed effortless this morning. He seems to do things very easily. What a classy horse, he added.
As for Mine That Birds next work, Woolley indicated the last-to-first winner of the Derby would come back in one week. Well see how he comes out of this and well just walk him tomorrow. If everything remains fine, the plan is to come back and work five eighths next Tuesday. Hes training good and Im glad we got out here early. Hes acclimated beautifully, said Woolley.
In addition to Mine That Bird, Chocolate Candy, Colonel John, Parading, Tiago and Richards Kid are all listed as possible Goodwood Starters.
The Goodwood Stakes is a Breeders Cup Win and Youre In race and the winner will be automatically eligible to run in the Gr. I, $5 million Breeders Cup Classic Nov. 7.
Looking past the Oct. 10 Goodwood, Woolley is optimistic about his horses chances in the mile and a quarter Breeders Cup Classic. A big field with lots of speed is excellent for him, said Woolley. That would set up good for him and give him a chance to close. Thats his game and thats what were looking for. The good thing out here (Southern California) is, theres always plenty of pace--always. Although Mine That Bird finished last in a field of 12 in last years Breeders Cup Juvenile at Oak Tree, Woolley is inclined to dismiss that result.
He won four straight races on Polytrack at Woodbine last year, and he handled the synthetic here well last year, Woolley said. The situation was, we bought the horse late last year and we got him out a little late for Dick (Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who saddled Mine That Bird for the Juvenile). We just didnt really have enough time with him.
He didnt get a very good trip in the Juvenile. He was wide all the way around there and he pressed the pace. This year, well change things up. Hopefully, itll work, he added.