Mine That Bird set for workout

Mine That Bird, this year's Kentucky Derby winner, is tentatively scheduled to work Monday at the Downs at Albuquerque, where his trainer, Chip Woolley, has a stable of horses. He could work between races, which he did at the track on Sept. 14. Mine That Bird has spent the past few weeks in New Mexico, the home state of his owners, but will soon head to Southern California to run in the Grade 1, $350,000 Goodwood at Santa Anita on Oct. 10.

"We're tentatively planning on working Monday," Woolley said Saturday. "We're kind of seeing what the weather does over the next couple of days. It's been really, really muddy, but it's supposed to clear up and get nice today and tomorrow. If it does, it should be good by Monday."

Mine That Bird flew into New Mexico from Saratoga the first week in September, and on Labor Day led the post parade for the Grade 1, $2 million All American Futurity for Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs.

Mine That Bird was then tentatively scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita on Sept. 14, but Woolley said the decision was made to put the trip off for at least a week to wait until the air cleared following the fires that had hit Southern California.

Mine That Bird has worked twice in New Mexico. He breezed a half-mile at Ruidoso in 48 seconds Sept. 7, then went the same distance at Albuquerque in 47.43 seconds on Sept. 14. The Goodwood is expected to be his stepping-stone to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.