Mine That Bird breezes sharp half-mile

Mine That Bird had his second workout for trainer D. Wayne Lukas when he breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds over a fast track shortly after the renovation break Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The Wednesday work reunited Mine That Bird with his regular rider, Calvin Borel, who guided the gelding to a smashing victory in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Working solo, they went in splits of 12.40 and 24.20, with a five-furlong gallop-out time of 1:01.40, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols.

Lukas does not have a specific comeback spot in mind but said he has settled on the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga as his first main goal.

"When we start, we want him to be dead right," said Lukas. "He took a big step forward today."

Mine That Bird has not raced since finishing ninth in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic, when he was still trained by Chip Woolley. After nearly two months of light training in New Mexico following a lengthy respite, the gelding was sent by owners Mark Allen and Leonard Blach to Lukas's care at Churchill on May 20.

Freelance exercise rider Dominic Terry was aboard Mine That Bird for his first work for Lukas, a three-furlong breeze May 26 in 35.20 seconds.