Mine That Bird has final drill for Woodward

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Mine That Bird, the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, continues to work sharply in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, drilling five furlongs in 1:00.25 over the Oklahoma training track on Monday. Saratoga clockers caught his first three furlongs in 36.94 seconds and his last quarter in 23.31 under jockey Rajiv Maragh.

He worked in blinkers for the second straight week. He has trained in blinkers since finishing fifth in the Whitney.

“I loved the way he worked today,” trainer D. Wayne Lukas said.

Mine That Bird will wear blinkers for the first time in the Woodward. Lukas is hoping to get the gelding into the race sooner than he typically has been.

“We can’t come from 15, 16 lengths back against these handicap horses and win,” Lukas said.

Though Maragh has worked Mine That Bird the last two weeks, Lukas was noncommittal about a jockey change from Calvin Borel to Maragh.

“Those guys that own that horse pretty much make all the decisions in that area,” Lukas said. “I’ll lay out everything to them, but I’m sure Calvin will be riding him.”

At Belmont Park, Haynesfield worked four furlongs in 50.90 seconds over the main track. He is nominated to the Woodward, but his connections have yet to decide whether to run.

Those considered definite are Arcodoro, Convocation, Mine That Bird, Mythical Power, and Quality Road.

On Sunday, Quality Road worked five furlongs in 1:00.18 over Saratoga’s main track under jockey John Velazquez.