/ El Paso Times
It's been quite a year for thoroughbred Mine That Bird and his team. After finishing second and fourth in two races at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, the 3-year-old son of Birdstone won the Kentucky Derby, finished second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont.
But Mine That Bird's team would like to enjoy that winning feeling again in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. Mine That Bird hasn't won since winning the Kentucky Derby at 50-1 odds, although he has finished on the board in three of those races.
"It's been a great run this year," Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley said. "The Breeders' Cup race is big for us, it's a great challenge. It'd be nice to improve off of our last couple of races."
Mine That Bird was third in the West Virginia Derby and sixth in the Goodwood Stakes on the same track he'll be running on Saturday.
Woolley believes the 1-mile distance will suit Mine That Bird better in this race. Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby at the same distance.
"The distance makes a difference to Mine that Bird," the trainer said. "He had legitimate chances in the Goodwood going another eighth-of-a-mile, he was closing fast, but the mile-and-a-quarter makes a big difference. It kind of changes the whole scheme of things."
Veteran Calvin Borel, who rode the gelding to the Kentucky Derby victory, will get the mount Saturday. For the $5 million Classic, Mine That Bird drew the No. 1 post in the field of 13. The
Kentucky Derby winner also drew morning-line odds of 12-1.
"The odds don't bother me," Woolley said. "It's a great field, there are great horses and it's going to be great to see such a field. It could be the most balanced Classic ever."
There are 12 Grade 1 winners in the field, including morning morning-line favorite Zenyatta, who is just the fourth female in history to run in the Classic. Also entered in the race is Colonel John, Summer Bird, Rip Van Winkle and Gio Ponti.
"Mine That Bird is going up older horses, and that'll be a challenge," co-owner Leonard Blach said. "But Mine That Bird breezed well on Monday and we feel he's in good shape going into the race. The Classic is a real challenge, but we feel he is good enough to hit the board and win it."
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino publicity director Eric Alwan agreed that this year's field is a tremendous one, and added that if Mine That Bird is to have a chance, he'll need some pace in the race.
"Mine That Bird has achieved a great deal this year," Alwan said. "It could be a great Classic, the distance could be to Mine That Bird's advantage."
Blach said Mine That Bird will take a rest after Saturday's race, then him and the rest of the team will map out a plan for the 2010 campaign.
Advance wagering on the entire Breeders' Cup from Santa Anita begins at 9 a.m. Friday. The first race from Santa Anita on Friday gets under way at 12:15 p.m. The first of six Breeders' Cup races starts at 1:35 p.m. -- the Breeders' Cup Classic is Race 9 in the card.
First race from Santa Anita on Saturday starts at 11:05 a.m. The first Breeders' Cup race on Saturday gets started at 11:45 a.m. In total, 14 Breeders' Cup races are planned on Friday and Saturday.
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino hosts a Breeders' Cup Preview on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Mt. Cristo Rey Room.
Alwan will moderate the event. Simulcast coordinator Steve Pedigo and Mutuel manager Steve Fedunak will lend their racing expertise on Saturday's Breeders' Cup races including the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Admission to the preview is free. Programs and past performances will be on sale.
It's been quite a year for thoroughbred Mine That Bird and his team. After finishing second and fourth in two races at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, the 3-year-old son of Birdstone won the Kentucky Derby, finished second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont.
But Mine That Bird's team would like to enjoy that winning feeling again in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. Mine That Bird hasn't won since winning the Kentucky Derby at 50-1 odds, although he has finished on the board in three of those races.
"It's been a great run this year," Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley said. "The Breeders' Cup race is big for us, it's a great challenge. It'd be nice to improve off of our last couple of races."
Mine That Bird was third in the West Virginia Derby and sixth in the Goodwood Stakes on the same track he'll be running on Saturday.
Woolley believes the 1-mile distance will suit Mine That Bird better in this race. Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby at the same distance.
"The distance makes a difference to Mine that Bird," the trainer said. "He had legitimate chances in the Goodwood going another eighth-of-a-mile, he was closing fast, but the mile-and-a-quarter makes a big difference. It kind of changes the whole scheme of things."
Veteran Calvin Borel, who rode the gelding to the Kentucky Derby victory, will get the mount Saturday. For the $5 million Classic, Mine That Bird drew the No. 1 post in the field of 13. The
Kentucky Derby winner also drew morning-line odds of 12-1.
"The odds don't bother me," Woolley said. "It's a great field, there are great horses and it's going to be great to see such a field. It could be the most balanced Classic ever."
There are 12 Grade 1 winners in the field, including morning morning-line favorite Zenyatta, who is just the fourth female in history to run in the Classic. Also entered in the race is Colonel John, Summer Bird, Rip Van Winkle and Gio Ponti.
"Mine That Bird is going up older horses, and that'll be a challenge," co-owner Leonard Blach said. "But Mine That Bird breezed well on Monday and we feel he's in good shape going into the race. The Classic is a real challenge, but we feel he is good enough to hit the board and win it."
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino publicity director Eric Alwan agreed that this year's field is a tremendous one, and added that if Mine That Bird is to have a chance, he'll need some pace in the race.
"Mine That Bird has achieved a great deal this year," Alwan said. "It could be a great Classic, the distance could be to Mine That Bird's advantage."
Blach said Mine That Bird will take a rest after Saturday's race, then him and the rest of the team will map out a plan for the 2010 campaign.
Advance wagering on the entire Breeders' Cup from Santa Anita begins at 9 a.m. Friday. The first race from Santa Anita on Friday gets under way at 12:15 p.m. The first of six Breeders' Cup races starts at 1:35 p.m. -- the Breeders' Cup Classic is Race 9 in the card.
First race from Santa Anita on Saturday starts at 11:05 a.m. The first Breeders' Cup race on Saturday gets started at 11:45 a.m. In total, 14 Breeders' Cup races are planned on Friday and Saturday.
Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino hosts a Breeders' Cup Preview on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Mt. Cristo Rey Room.
Alwan will moderate the event. Simulcast coordinator Steve Pedigo and Mutuel manager Steve Fedunak will lend their racing expertise on Saturday's Breeders' Cup races including the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Admission to the preview is free. Programs and past performances will be on sale.
