Mine That Bird will run in Preakness

Mine That Bird will now go for the black-eyed susans (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) Kentucky Derby (G1) upsetter MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) will compete in the May 16 Preakness S. (G1), Pimlico officials announced Monday morning. Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. told Pimlico's Mike Gathagan that Mine That Bird will ship to Baltimore early next week. "I have never been to Baltimore, but it looks like I won't be able to say that in a few days," Woolley said Monday morning at Churchill Downs after his Kentucky Derby 135 winner Mine That Bird jogged a mile on a sloppy race track. With owners Mark Allen of Double Eagle Ranch and Dr. Leonard Blach of Buena Suerte Equine on hand, Mine That Bird went to the track at 6:40 a.m. (EDT) with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up. "He was just bucking and playing out there," Figueroa said. "The outriders were surprised to see that yellow (Derby) saddle towel come jogging by." With Allen leading Mine That Bird to the track, Woolley watched the exercise from the viewing stand at the six-furlong chute.

"Perfect. He tried to buck Charlie off in front of the grandstand and doesn't

normally do that," Woolley said. "Tomorrow he will back-track to the

three-eighths and then 'lope' around one time and the next day two times.

"It will be two rounds a day. I might walk him one day, maybe the day we

ship, but he will have no breezes before the Preakness."

Woolley said the Triple Crown pursuit factored into the thinking of going on

to Pimlico with the gelded son of 2004 Belmont S. (G1) winner Birdstone.

"The Triple Crown is good for racing, and without the Derby winner (in the

Preakness) there is no chance to have one," Woolley said.

A 50-1 outsider in Derby 135, Mine That Bird closed from last to first to

record a 6 3/4-length decision over the sloppy track at Churchill Downs. The bay

gelding dropped his first two starts this year in New Mexico, but he displayed

fine juvenile class when capturing three stakes at Woodbine, including the Grey

S. (Can-G3), and wound up being named Canadian champion two-year-old. He now

owns an overall mark of 9-5-1-0 with $1,791,581 in earnings.

Mine That Bird gave jockey Calvin Borel his second Kentucky Derby victory and

Woolley lauded the popular rider's effort on Saturday that was the 4,729th win

of Borel's career.

"Calvin has given two of the greatest rides in Kentucky Derby history,"

Woolley said of Saturday's score and a near-identical run two years previous

with Street Sense. "To come from last and go by 18 head, that's just

incredible."

Mine That Bird is expected to remain at Churchill Downs until at least May

12.

According to Pimlico officials, Derby fourth PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike) is

definitely bound for a rematch with Mine That Bird in the Preakness.

Papa Clem walked the shedrow at Churchill's Barn 10A Monday morning, led by exercise rider Mundo

Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said Papa Clem would return to the track to jog Tuesday morning. Trainer Gary Stute is

scheduled to return to Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday or Sunday from his Southern

California base.

Four other Derby starters are considered possible for the 134th running of the Preakness: runner-up PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker), third-placer MUSKET MAN

(Yonaguska), seventh-placer JOIN IN THE

DANCE (Sky Mesa) and 10th-placer GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa).

After being dragged around the shedrow at Barn 37 by General Quarters on

Monday morning, owner-trainer Tom McCarthy began to think a bit about a

Preakness bid with the 10th-place Kentucky Derby finisher.

"He came out of the race a lot better than I thought," McCarthy said. "His

legs are cold all the way around, so maybe things aren't as bad as I thought."

McCarthy said he would try to walk General Quarters one more day before

returning to the track Wednesday.

"The way he walked this morning, dragging us around the barn … I'm going to

try to give him another day," McCarthy said. "I will gallop him a few days and

see where we are, but I want to get a Pimlico condition book so I can see what

all the fees are."

Pioneerof the Nile walked the shedrow at Barn 33 at Churchill Downs for a

second morning after his runner-up finish in Kentucky Derby 135.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who was leaving Louisville later Monday and scheduled to

return Saturday night, said Pioneerof the Nile would return to the track

Wednesday morning.

Derby pacesetter Join in the Dance walked for a second straight morning at

Churchill Downs.

"He came out of the race real good and probably will return to the track

Wednesday," said Mike McCarthy, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, as the dark

bay eagerly attacked the grass behind Barn 41.

Pletcher had indicated Sunday that there "was a chance" Join in the Dance

could come back in the Preakness.

CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]), fifth-place finisher behind Mine That

Bird in Kentucky Derby 135, will skip the Preakness and point for the June 6

Belmont. The Jerry Hollendorfer colt is scheduled to leave Churchill Tuesday for

Belmont Park, according to assistant trainer Galen May.