Kentucky Derby (G1) hero MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) blitzed a half-mile in
:48 over a fast track at Ruidoso Downs on Monday, several hours before he was
scheduled to lead the All American Futurity post parade at the New Mexico track.
The Chip Woolley trainee missed the August 29 Travers S. (G1) at Saratoga in
the aftermath of minor surgery for an entrapped epiglottis. In his most recent
start, the gelding finished third in the August 1 West Virginia Derby (G2) at
Mountaineer Park.
Plans call for Mine That Bird to line up next in the October 10 Goodwood S.
(G1) at Santa Anita, a stepping stone to the November 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic
(G1).
On the way from Saratoga to his ultimate destination in Southern California,
Mine That Bird shipped in to Ruidoso last week in something of a homecoming.
His owners, Mark Allen of Double Eagle Ranch and Dr. Leonard Blach of Buena
Suerte Equine, are both based in Roswell, New Mexico, and Mine That Bird had
wintered in Sunland Park.
Runner-up in the Borderland Derby and fourth in the Sunland Derby in his
first two sophomore starts, Mine That Bird next invaded Churchill Downs to
spring a 50-1 stunner in the Kentucky Derby. His Triple Crown assault concluded
with a second to Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Preakness S. (G1) and
a third to Summer Bird (Birdstone) in the Belmont S. (G1).
Mine That Bird has compiled a 12-5-2-2 career mark with $2,196,581 in
earnings. Prior to being privately purchased by Allen and Blach last fall, he
raced for trainer David Cotey’s Dominion Bloodstock, winning three straight
stakes en route to earning a Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion two-year-old
male.