by Mike Curry

Trainer Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr. will not name another rider for Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) (video) winner Mine That Bird until he knows for sure that he is without the services of Calvin Borel.

Borel is the regular rider of runaway Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra and has committed to ride the talented three-year-old filly should she be entered in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course. Woolley said he has an alternative rider in mind for Mine That Bird, but for now Borel is his jockey when the time comes for Preakness entries.

"Calvin Borel will be on the [entry] card," Woolley said Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. "I do have a backup, but I am not ready to release it."

No final decision has been made on Rachel Alexandra’s status for the second jewel of the Triple Crown, but new owner Jess Jackson has said if the Medaglia d’Oro filly is in top condition she probably will contest the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. Rachel Alexandra galloped once around the sloppy main track at Churchill on Saturday for new trainer Steve Asmussen.

Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and Harold T. McCormick purchased Rachel Alexandra for an undisclosed price following her 20 1/4-length Oaks romp (video). Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to be flown to Baltimore on Wednesday, but a decision on whether she makes the trip will not be made until the filly breezes Sunday or Monday.

“We are excited at the prospect of seeing the first four finishers from the Kentucky Derby and the superstar filly in the Preakness,” Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chuckassaid . “We could be looking at one for the ages.”

Rachel Alexandra would be the first Oaks winner to contest the Preakness. The last filly to win the Preakness was Nellie Morse in 1924.

Rachel Alexandra would need to be supplemented to the Preakness for $100,000 since she is not nominated to the Triple Crown. The field is limited to 14 horses with preference given to Triple Crown nominees. On Saturday, one potential contender was removed from consideration, perhaps solidifying a spot for the highly regarded filly.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said Phipps Stable homebred Conservative, runner-up in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) (video) on April 18, will not race in the Preakness and will instead return to turf for the Hill Prince Stakes (G3) on June 5 at Belmont Park.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher won the 2007 Belmont Stakes (G1) with that year’s Kentucky Oaks winner, Rags to Riches. He knows how difficult it is to win a Triple Crown race, but from what he has seen of Rachel Alexandra, Pletcher believes she has the physical ability to accomplish the feat.

“That filly has been most impressive,” said Pletcher, who is sending Grade 3-placed winner Take the Points to the Preakness. “It takes a special kind of filly to win one of the classics, and she looks like she is special.”

Pletcher also said he is considering Florida Derby Presented by Blackberry (G1) (video) runner-up Dunkirk for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 6.

While most of the Preakness attention has centered on Rachel Alexandra, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird continues to prepare for the Preakness at Churchill. With an off track at Churchill for the third straight morning, the Birdstone gelding galloped once around the main track under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.

Woolley originally planned to gallop Mine That Bird twice around the track on Saturday but changed plans because of the track condition.

Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile galloped 1 1/2 miles at Churchill. The Empire Maker colt is schedule to breeze on Monday and is slated to be shipped to Baltimore on Wednesday.

"He couldn't be doing any better," exercise rider George Alvarez said.

Derby fourth-place finisher Papa Clem galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez on Saturday at Churchill before leaving by van at 10:30 a.m. EDT for Pimlico.

A pair of Preakness contenders slated to breeze on Saturday at Churchill—Grade 3 winners Terrain and Hull—had their workouts postponed because of the off track.

Terrain galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Jimmy Valdez, and trainer Al Stall Jr. said he is scheduled to breeze Sunday.

Trainer Dale Romans also said Derby Trial Stakes (G3) (video) winner Hull will breeze five furlongs Sunday.

"He galloped today and will work tomorrow ," Romans said of the undefeated Holy Bull colt. Romans said he expects to decide by Tuesday whether Hull will be shipped to Baltimore or pointed to the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) at Belmont on June 6.

Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) (video) winner General Quarters encountered a loose horse during his morning exercise, but trainer Tom McCarthy said the Sky Mesa colt escaped serious incident during the 1 1/2-mile gallop.

"[General Quarters] had to check a little bit when he came around the turn," McCarthy said. "You never know what they [loose horses] are going to do.

"It was still deep, muddy this morning," McCarthy added about the main track. "He went well over it, but racing in it is a little different."

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Saturday that Alan Garcia will ride Flying Private in the Preakness. Flying Private finished last in the Kentucky Derby.

Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes (G3) winner Big Drama galloped around the main track at Pimlico at 6:30 a.m. under exercise rider and assistant trainer, Celia Fawkes. The Montbrook colt has been at Pimlico since Wednesday. Trainer David Fawkes plans to breeze Big Drama four furlongs on Monday morning after the renovation break.

Federico Tesio Stakes third-place finisher Tone It Down will contest the Preakness.

“We felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime deal,” trainer William Komlo said. “We are Maryland people and he is a Maryland horse. We feel we have not seen the best of this horse just yet. We have been very patient and he is a nice horse. We don’t know if we can compete but we are willing to try.”

Derby third-place finisher Musket Man is stabled at Monmouth Park with trainer Derek Ryan, who said the Yonaguska colt will breeze Tuesday.

“He’s doing fine here,” Ryan said. “We’ll ship the morning of the race, since it’s an easy van ride down to Baltimore.”

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor

Possible Preakness Stakes starters