Owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach and trainer Chip Woolley announced
Wednesday morning that Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone)
would not enter Saturday’s 140th running of the $1 million Travers (G1), citing
continued concerns about an entrapped epiglottis that was repaired on August 18.
“We’ve decided to err on the side of caution and pass this race up and aim
down the road to the Breeders’ Cup,” Woolley said. “There’s one little spot
underneath the epiglottis pushing up just a tiny bit and after studying and
looking at it, we’re going to hold off and make sure the horse is okay and not
take any chances with the rest of his career.”
Since discovering the entrapped epiglottis on August 17 following a workout,
Mine That Bird’s connections have said they would not run the gelding if he were
anything less than 100 percent healthy. The surgery, performed at the Ruffian
Equine Medical Center in Elmont, New York, was pronounced a success and the
gelding has had three endoscopic examinations in the week following the
procedure. Based on a final examination Wednesday after turning in what would
have been his final breeze for the Travers on Tuesday, his connections decided
not to run.
“It was a hard decision,” Dr. Blach said. “(The endoscopic examination
Wednesday) showed a small spot on the left lateral quarter of the epiglottis.
It’s healed up, it’s not raw, there’s no ulcer on there at all it’s just kind of
an enlargement on the left side. Essentially it’s going to be normal and it’s
probably going to be there for a while. Having surgery just eight days ago, we
probably don’t want to take a risk.”
Added Woolley: “It’s probably not a problem, but we don’t feel comfortable
taking a chance. It probably would have no bearing on the race, but we don’t
want to do anything that might jeopardize his future.”
Woolley said another factor in the decision was that Mine That Bird could
continue to receive post-operative medication, which would have been halted had
he run.
No specific plans were outlined for where Mine That Bird might make his next
start, but his connections said they would consider the Goodwood S. (G1) at
Santa Anita on October 10 with the November 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at
Santa Anita being the gelding’s primary objective.