Stars out Monday morning at Churchill
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2009 Horse of the Year and the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner were sent through solo five-furlong breezes two hours apart Monday morning at Churchill Downs when Rachel Alexandra went in 1:03 and Mine That Bird went in 59.80 seconds.
In her second workout since her easy victory in the Fleur de Lis Handicap - and her last before she is shipped Wednesday to Saratoga - Rachel Alexandra went at about 6:35 a.m. With Shaun Bridgmohan keeping her under stout restraint, Rachel Alexandra went in splits of 12.80, 25.60, 38.40, and 50.60, with a six-furlong gallop time of 1:17.
For the Rachel Alexandra work, the track was sloppy from a hard overnight rain, although clockers changed their designation to muddy at 7:15. The track was sealed all morning.
Rachel Alexandra, unbeaten in eight starts last year as Horse of the Year, notched her first win in three 2010 races when scoring by 10 1/2 lengths in the June 12 Fleur de Lis at Churchill. The 4-year-old filly had finished second in her first two races of the season. Logical options for her next start include the Aug. 1 Ruffian Handicap or the Aug. 29 Personal Ensign, both at Saratoga.
Mine That Bird, with regular rider Calvin Borel up, was among the first to work after the regularly scheduled renovation break at about 8:35, going in splits of 12.20, 24.20, 36.20, and 47,80, with a six-furlong gallop-out of 1:14.60.
Mine That Bird was having his final workout before what is expected to be his 4-year-old debut this weekend. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he likely will enter the gelding Wednesday for a $63,000 allowance race scheduled for Saturday at Churchill.
"I don't have to run," he said. "They're telling me the race might not fill. It's still early in the week, so we'll just have to see."
Lukas said the Firecracker Handicap on the Churchill turf on Sunday is an alternative spot, although Mine That Bird has never raced on grass. He said he is not inclined to send the gelding to Monmouth Park for the Salvator Mile on Saturday partly because of the rigors of shipping. Lukas is targeting the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap on Aug. 7 at Saratoga as the main immediate goal for Mine That Bird.
Mine That Bird has had six workouts since co-owners Mark Allen and Leonard Blach sent him to Lukas on May 20. Lukas said he will take his stable, including Mine That Bird, to Saratoga on July 12.