Mine That Bird 2010 debut getting closer

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Although no race has been confirmed, trainer D. Wayne Lukas is actively preparing 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird for the gelding's first start of the year. The four-year-old had a six- furlong workout Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

"I am not sure where we'll go," Lukas said. "He is nominated to the Salvatore Mile (July 3 at Monmouth Park), which is a nice option. He is nominated to everything but the Tokyo Fair. Our goal is the Whitney (August 7 at Saratoga). We are going to dive right into the deep end."

Owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird breezed three-quarters of a mile in 1:13 with Calvin Borel riding. This was the fifth work for the gelding since being transferred to Lukas. Mine That Bird galloped out seven-furlongs in 1:27 1/5.

"When they started training horses 300 years ago, this is what they had in mind," Lukas noted. "His last quarter was in 23 and 2 and his last eighth, it had to be 11 and change. He was flying."

Mine That Bird last raced in the Breeders' Cup Classic last November when he was ninth to Zenyatta. The four-year-old's last win was the Run for the Roses on May 2, 2009.