MINE THAT BIRD WORKS FOR WHITNEY

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

 

Contact: NYRA Press Office

(518) 584-6200, ext. 4237

 

MINE THAT BIRD WORKS FOR WHITNEY

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby, worked a mile Wednesday morning at Saratoga Race Course in preparation for his next start, the Grade 1 Whitney on Saturday, August 7.

 

With Calvin Borel aboard, the 4-year-old gelded son of Birdstone covered the mile in 1:40.14 over the Oklahoma Training Track.

 

“I loved his work,” said Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who took over Mine That Bird’s training in the spring. “It was a nice move; for a horse to work a mile in 1:40 on the training track – on any track – is pretty good, and he came home with good energy.

 

“I worked him a mile because I think he needed a little more,” added Lukas, who had sent out Mine That Bird to finish eighth in a turf stakes at Churchill Downs on July 4 in his 2010 debut, which was his first start for Lukas. “He’ll work one more time, and then it’s time to dance the dance.”

 

The trainer noted that on July 21, 1973, Secretariat worked a mile in preparation for the Whitney, in which he was beaten by Onion. Lukas also said that on July 21, 1985, he personally was the underbidder at $13 million on an unraced yearling named Seattle Dancer, who was purchased by the British Bloodstock Agency (England) on behalf of a partnership for $13.1 million at the Keeneland July selected yearling sale. He went on to earn $152,412 in a five-race career.

 

“I dodged a bullet with that one,” said Lukas.

 

Owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird will be seeking his first victory since taking the Derby as a 50-1 longshot, having subsequently finished second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont. In his final three starts of 2009, Mine That Bird was third in the West Virginia Derby, sixth in the Goodwood and ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

 

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