Final Bird Move

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird got in his final workout before Saturday's Belmont Stakes at Churchill Downs this morning.

The son of 2005 Belmont winner Birdstone worked a half-mile in :50 under jockey Calvin Borel. Even though that work wasn't all that fast, Borel could not be more confident.

"We're gonna win, no questions asked," he said

Trainer Chip Woolley was also thrilled with the workout.

"I think we are in good shape going into the Belmont," Woolley said. "The horse is doing good and probably training better than he did going into the Derby."

There certainly is reason for optimism in the "Bird Camp" and for Borel to win his own personal Triple Crown would be one of the best stories of the year.

But the Belmont has shattered lots of dreams in the past few years. (See Big Brown for the latest example.) And running in three of the biggest races of the year in five weeks is grueling.

Let's hope that Mine That Bird is resilient enough to grind out one more win to carry Borel into racing immortality and give a publicity shot in the arm that racing REALLY needs.

Also working today was Chocolate Candy. The fifth-place finisher in the Derby went a half-mile in :50.25. The son of Candy Ride has been training at Belmont Park for the past month.

Two of Mine That Bird's chief rivals worked Sunday at Belmont Park. Charitable Man went a half-mile in :49 and Dunkirk worked the same distance in :49.57.

Charitable Man is 3-for-4 lifetime and is a perfect 2-for-2 at Belmont Park. Dunkirk, trained by Todd Pletcher, hasn't run since his 11th place finish in the Derby.

Photo courtesy of Reed Palmer/Churchill Downs