Mine That Bird stretches his legs at Pimlico

Mine That Bird will have to find his way without Calvin Borel in the Preakness (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Early morning rains did nothing to alter training plans for Kentucky

Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone), who galloped his customary

two miles under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa Thursday at Pimlico in

preparation for Saturday's Preakness S. (G1).

"The track looks super to me," trainer Chip Woolley said. "It looks

like it could be a little laboring, but overall, it looks good to me. It

looks like a little moisture is just the ticket for it."

Moisture in the Churchill Downs racing surface on Derby Day certainly

didn't hold back Mine That Bird, who skipped over the sealed, sloppy

track to close from last to score by 6 3/4 lengths. Woolley said he is

still amazed when he watches video of his gelding's 50-1 shocker under

jockey Calvin Borel.

"It was the moves he made and the trip he got. Calvin just gave him a

super, super trip. He never second-guessed himself and got through there

at just the right time. That was probably the most amazing thing. I

could watch it right now and it's like it's Derby Day," said the New

Mexico-based trainer, whose Derby winner is rated at 6-1 in the

Preakness morning line, co-third choice with FRIESAN FIRE (A.P. Indy)

behind RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro), who is the 8-5 favorite, and

PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker), the 5-1 second choice.

An off track shouldn't hurt Mine That Bird's chances in the Triple Crown's second jewel (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Borel will not produce a repeat performance aboard Mine That Bird,

having chosen to stick with Rachel Alexandra, whom he rode to victory in

the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1 by 20 1/4 lengths.

"This is a business, and Calvin has to watch out for himself,"

Woolley said. "It was his choice and I respect his choice. It was a hard

choice for him to make and I appreciate the fact that he and his agent

were really upfront with us from Day One, as soon as they knew the

prospect was out there (to ride Rachel Alexandra). They came and told us

and gave us the opportunity to get the best rider we could."

Mike Smith will be aboard Mine That Bird and will be given the same

instructions to drop back early that Woolley had given Borel before the

Derby.

"If he dropped back at Sunland, he'd have won them all," said Woolley,

whose gelding set the pace while finishing second in the Borderland

Derby and made a premature move before coming home fourth in the Sunland

Derby. "That's the problem. He doesn't need to be up there. He needs to

drop back. That's the only way to win races like these with him. He's

not as versatile as his form makes him look like he is."

Although Borel has probably received more credit for the Derby

victory than Mine That Bird, Woolley said he recognized a special

quality when he joined his stable following his last-place finish in the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita last fall.