Preakness candidates get in light exercise at Churchill

Jockey Calvin Borel will look to celebrate aboard Mine That Bird in Baltimore (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) back-tracked to the paddock tunnel and then "loped" once around the fast main track at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning before the renovation break. Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. liked what he saw and said Mine That Bird would 'lope' around twice on Wednesday. "The only reason we are staying here is because he is very comfortable here and training well," Woolley said. "We will leave Monday or Tuesday, probably Tuesday (for Baltimore). He may jog the morning we leave. I'd like to leave about 9 (a.m. [EDT]) and get into Pimlico around 7 that evening." The Maryland Jockey Club has arranged for a police escort to meet Mine That Bird and his connections on Interstate 70 prior to the Baltimore beltway and accompany them to Pimlico. The magnitude of pulling off the second-largest mutuel shocker in Derby history ($103.20) still has not sunk in on Woolley. "The whole thing is still a whirlwind," Woolley said. "It is hard to get a grip on it that it really happened. Eventually you'll get used to the fact that it really did happen. "Sunday I was in the paddock getting ready to do an interview and looked up at the sign 'Kentucky Derby 2009, Mine That Bird' and I almost started crying. I couldn't believe it."

Winning jockey Calvin Borel, who saw his bid for a Triple Crown end two years

ago at Pimlico on Street Sense when he was nipped by Curlin, came by the barn to

look in on the Derby winner.

Woolley was asked what Borel told him after he worked Mine That Bird five

furlongs the Monday before the Derby after being on the gelding for the first

time.

"I was looking for 1:01 that morning and he went in 1:02, but he got off a

little slow," Woolley said. "Calvin never moved on him and he said 'He will

finish' and that gave Calvin the confidence to take back and come driving."

PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike) returned to the track at Churchill Downs at 6:15

Tuesday morning for the first time since running fourth in Kentucky Derby 135.

With exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez aboard, Papa Clem jogged the wrong way

around accompanied by a pony. Gonzalez said Papa Clem would gallop in the

morning about the same time on Wednesday.

Trainer Gary Stute is scheduled to return to Louisville this weekend and the

colt is scheduled to fly to Baltimore on May 13.

PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker) is scheduled to return to the track

Wednesday morning for the first time since his runner-up finish in the Kentucky

Derby 135.

Trainer Bob Baffert is scheduled to return to Louisville on Saturday night.

Two of the nine runners he has at Churchill Downs, Mayor Marv (Distorted Humor)

and Mythical Power (Congaree), will be heading to Texas on Wednesday for

Saturday's Lone Star Derby (G3) at 1 1/16 miles.

Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy walked GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) on Tuesday

morning and plans to return the 10th-place Kentucky Derby finisher to the track

Wednesday morning.

"The Preakness is a possibility, but I want to see how he gallops and go from

there," McCarthy said. "He is doing so well. I'd like to get him over there

(Pimlico) and get a few turns around the track."

McCarthy is not sure when he would bring General Quarters to Pimlico if he

decides to try the Preakness. A charter flight leaves from Louisville on May 13,

but, McCarthy said, "He ships so well, I may van him up."

Team Valor International and Gary Barber's undefeated HULL (Holy Bull)

galloped Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Dale Romans said the undefeated winner of the Derby Trial S. (G3) on

April 25 would work Saturday morning and fly to Baltimore on May 13. Miguel

Mena, who was aboard for the Derby Trial win, has the Preakness call.

Meanwhile, the connections of TERRAIN (Sky Mesa) have yet to decide whether

the colt goes to Lone Star Park for Saturday's Lone Star Derby or remains in

Stall 7 at Barn 47 at Churchill Downs and trains for the Preakness.

"We've got a decision to make," trainer Al Stall Jr. said Tuesday morning.

"The plane for Texas leaves at 7 o'clock (Wednesday) morning.

"We are not 100 percent for the Preakness. He is at Keeneland and is coming

over here this afternoon. If he does not go to Texas, he will work here this

weekend and fly to Baltimore next Wednesday."

Terrain ran fourth in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland on April 11 in his

most recent start.

"We gave him a little time off after the Blue Grass and he has had two works

since," Stall said of Terrain, who worked a half-mile in :50 2/5 at Keeneland on

Sunday. "He has done real well since the Blue Grass."

Terrain has run twice this year, opening with a third-place finish in the

Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 14. Fourth in last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile

(G1), Terrain closed 2008 with a fifth-place finish in the Delta Jackpot (G3)

behind BIG DRAMA (Montbrook), who is "on his way" to Pimlico from

South

Florida according to trainer David Fawkes. He is expected to arrive sometime

Wednesday morning.

Big Drama has won five of seven lifetime starts, including a rare sweep of

the three races that comprise the Florida Stallion S. as a two-year-old. Fawkes

will give his star the day off Wednesday and expects Big Drama to be on the

track Friday morning "at the latest." Fawkes plans a Monday morning breeze at

Old Hilltop.

Prior to the Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher announced TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score)

would be pointed to the Preakness, and the Starlight Partners ownership group has

made hotel plans with Pimlico Director of Horsemen's Relations Phoebe Hayes.

"Take the Points is training very well," Pletcher said. "We plan on breezing

him Saturday or Sunday at Belmont Park."

The Eclipse Award winning trainer said that Join in the Dance (Sky Mesa), who

finished seventh in the Derby, is no longer under consideration for Maryland's

signature event.

Two others not not headed to Baltimore are the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained duo

of Mr. Fantasy (E Dubai) and Charitable Man (Lemon Drop Kid). Mr. Fantasy, who

captured the Withers S. (G3) last out, is being pointed instead toward the May

25 Metropolitan H. (G1). Charitable Man, who captured the Futurity S. (G2) last

season, will run in Saturday's Peter Pan S. (G2) at Belmont Park.

MUSKET MAN (Yonaguska), who was an impressive third-place finisher Saturday

in Louisville, is back home at Monmouth Park. The Illinois Derby (G2) and Tampa

Bay Derby (G3) winner has never finished off the board in seven lifetime starts.

"The race is under consideration," trainer Derek Ryan said. "Our thinking is

to go next in either the Preakness or the Belmont S. (G1), but not both."

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will attempt to win his sixth Preakness

with FLYING PRIVATE (Fusaichi Pegasus), who finished second in the Lane's End S.

(G2) in March but finished last of 19 in the Kentucky Derby.

"We didn't get what we expected to get in the Derby," Lukas said. "It wasn't

him, but we were optimistic about getting it done in the Derby so we are hopeful

the real Flying Private will show up in the Preakness."

Lukas has saddled 32 starters in Maryland's signature race since 1980, the

most of any conditioner. He tasted victory with Codex (1980), Tank's Prospect

(1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995) and Charismatic (1999).

"We have been successful at Pimlico and the hospitality is second to none,"

Lukas added. "The Derby has a niche in our industry but so does the Preakness.

Pimlico is the place to be in the middle of May. Not only do the owners and

trainers get treated well but the help is also taken care of in a first class

manner. We enjoy the experience."

The Preakness field will not include a starter, however, from Hall of Fame

conditioner Nick Zito for just the fourth time since 1991. The Zito stable

initially thought last weekend's Federico Tesio S. winner Miner's Escape

(Mineshaft) would represent the barn. Just a Coincidence (Forestry), who had

back-to-back wins at Gulfstream Park this winter, was also on the Preakness

radar screen before a disappointing third in the Wood Memorial S. (G1).

"It looks like we will not make the Preakness at this stage of the game,"

Zito's longtime assistant Tim Poole said. "It is a little too close for the

Tesio winner. He had not run in six weeks (March 14) and we want to give him

time. Just a Coincidence has had a rough campaign. Nick is probably going to

give him some time."

Other potential Preakness starters are FRIESAN FIRE (A.P. Indy), Lexington S. (G2)

runner-up CONSERVATIVE (Unbridled's Song) and European invader SKY GATE (Arch),

who has not started since breaking his maiden in December.

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters. Fourteen of the last 17 years have

seen double-digit starters.