Breeders' Cup Classic next for Mine That Bird

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - In spite of finishing sixth in his most recent start, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will make his next start in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, November 7 at Santa Anita. His owners and trainer came to the decision Monday morning.

"We were disappointed with his race in the Goodwood Stakes," trainer Chip Woolley said, "but now that I've had a chance to sleep on it and talk things over with the owners, we're going to the Breeders' Cup Classic."

Owned by Mark Allen and Dr, Leonard Blach, Mine That Bird went off as the 3-1 second choice in the 10 horse field. The Goodwood Stakes was won by 18-1 longshot Gitano Hernando, who was making his first start outside England.

"My horse closed, and he ran pretty fast when you go back and analyze the race," Woolley noted. "My horse finished up the last five-eighths in :58, but what are you gonna do? The other ones aren't slowing down, when they go a :48.54 half. I'll bet you there's not a Grade One in the country run that slow for the first half mile all year--not on a fast race track."

Calvin Borel rode the gelding for the first time since they finished third to Summer Bird in the Belmont Stakes. Borel is committed to ride Mine That Bird in the Classic. The Goodwood was the three-year-old's first start since August 1 when he was third in the West Virginia Derby.

After the race at Mountaineer Park Mine That Bird underwent throat surgery for an entrapped epiglottis. He was held out of the Travers at Saratoga while he recovered.

He finished 12th in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, but won four races in 2008 on Woodbine's synthetic track.

Mine that Bird has five wins in 13 lifetime starts with earnings of nearly $2.2 million. This year the gelding has earned almost $1.9 million with one win in seven starts.