Derby winner takes to California

Mine That Bird is apparently enjoying his new surroundings at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Gearing up for his next start in Saturday's Grade 1 $300,000 Goodwood, the upset Kentucky Derby winner worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5, third-fastest of 21 horses at the distance on Tuesday.

"The horse worked really super," trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley said during a national teleconference. "He got off kind of soft, and the early part of the work wasn't really fast, but when he turned for home, he really shifted gears and really, really let out down the lane.

"He worked his last eighth of a mile in :11 and 2. He galloped out in :13 and change. I was looking, he actually galloped out faster than the 10 or 12 there that worked six furlongs today worked in six furlongs. So he looked really super."

The Goodwood will be the first race for Mine That Bird since early August, when he ran third in the Grade 2 $750,000 West Virginia Derby. He was forced to miss the Grade 1 $1 million Travers at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 29 recovering from minor throat surgery.

"It's a huge concern," Woolley said. "It's going to end up being about 10 weeks since we've run, I guess. That's a big stretch, but the horse is doing good and he's really had some super work. He worked fast when he was back home in New Mexico both times, and had a big work (Tuesday) morning.

"I think fitness with him is not a major concern because he only runs three-eighths of a mile or so, where a lot of horses if you have to go out there and put up some fast numbers, it might really be hard to be fit (with all those races). But with his early running style, he should be able to finish all right."

The 1 1/8-mile Goodwood will be 3-year-old Birdstone gelding Mine That Bird's first try against older horses. Expected to run are 2008 Travers winner Colonel John, Parading, Richard's Kid, Tiago and Tres Borrachos.

It will also be the first try over a synthetic surface for Mine That Bird since he was off the board in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, also over Santa Anita's artificial Pro-Ride. MTB was champion 2-year-old of 2008 in Canada, which also uses the fake stuff.

"The horse just looks like he gets over it super," Woolley said. "If you go back and analyze his Breeders' Cup race from last year, I've told everybody that we got the horse in here a little late and that wasn't really giving him his best shot. But, he also chased the pace almost five wide all the way around there, and really didn't get a real good trip. So we were a little disappointed, but I think with a better trip the horse likes the racetrack okay.

"I think most as you saw with Summer Bird, horses transfer pretty well into the older company. And I feel like he is up for a big race. We'll just see how they stack up, but I think he'll be okay."

Summer Bird won his first try against older horses in last weekend's Jockey Club Gold Cup, after winning the Belmont and Travers. Mine That Bird will be reunited with jockey Calvin Borel, who was aboard for the Derby upset.