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Borel predicts another victory

Posted: Monday, June 01, 2009 10:57 AM

MINE THAT BIRD BREEZES AT CHURCHILL ON JUNE 1

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography

Calvin Borel, attempting an unprecedented Triple Crown sweep on two different horses in the same year, expects Mine That Bird to deliver after guiding the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner through a final workout on Monday at Churchill Downs.

“We’re gonna win, no questions asked,” Borel said after the half-mile breeze in :50, which ranked 32nd of 57 moves at the distance. “He worked in :50 and out in 1:02, just like before the Derby. He is doing everything the same.”

Trainer Chip Woolley was shooting for a time around :49 or :49.20 but he was satisfied when Mine That Bird finished with a final quarter of :23.40.

“He picked it up good the last quarter,” Woolley said. “The important part was finishing strong and galloping out without weakening.”

Mine That Bird covered a half-mile in :51 on May 25 over a sloppy track at Churchill in his other workout since finishing second to Rachel Alexandra in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 16 (video).

Borel rode Mine That Bird in the Derby (video) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness to become the first jockey to win the Oaks and Preakness on the same horse.

“After those two hard races, I think the [gelding] is very happy,” Borel said.

Mine That Bird is scheduled to arrive in New York on Wednesday.

Rachel Alexandra also appeared on the Churchill work tab on Monday, a few days after being ruled out of the Belmont. The Medaglia d’Oro filly breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 under exercise rider Dominic Terry.

Co-owner Jess Jackson said last week that the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) on June 27 at Belmont Park would be an option for Rachel Alexandra’s next start.

Trainer Steve Asmussen did not outline any firm plans for her on Monday.

“I think everybody gets to take a step back and take a deep breath,” Asmussen said. “We’ll take a little bit of the pressure off her and just enjoy her. We were very pleased with how she went. We’ll see what sort of energy she comes out of it with. As always, we’ll be talking with Jess and communicating where we feel she is.”

Two other probable Belmont starters turned in final workouts on Monday.

Mr. Hot Stuff, who will be on the same flight as Mine That Bird, breezed five furlongs in 1:00 at Keeneland Race Course. Mr. Hot Stuff finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby.

Chocolate Candy, the fifth-place finisher in the Derby, went an easy half-mile in :50.25 at Belmont Park.

“He has progressed very well since he first got here [on May 7],” exercise rider Lindsey Molina said. “Now, all I can say is, he just skips over the track. Today, that was just galloping for him. I had to take another hold of him to keep him from doing more.”

The Belmont is expected to draw a field of ten. Nowhere to Hide, who breezed four furlongs in :49.92 on Monday at Saratoga Race Course, is questionable.

Possible Belmont Stakes starters