Work, Work, Work

On Monday, it was Rachel Alexandra (Woodward) and Quality Road (Shadwell Travers); Tuesday, it was Mine That Bird's turn. Rachel, as usual, looked awesome breezing, Quality Road continues to impress and the Kentucky Derby winner was bouncing and playing when he came off the track after his work. Tomorrow, they'll scope Mine That Bird again to see if there is any irritation from the procedure to correct the entrapped epiglottis; if not, the Shadwell Travers looks like a go. Keep your fingers crossed!!!!


Here's Rachel:

Here's Quality Road:

And, finally, here's Mine That Bird!

Just more proof...

That while she might be Kentucky-bred, Rachel Alexandra's a New Yorker through and through - right down to her vehicle registration.

Things have been a little hectic at Saratoga Insider today, but we promise plenty more Rachel as she prepares for her historic run in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on September 5 - and plenty more from all corners of the Spa leading into Shadwell Travers weekend!

Summer Birdzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Summer Bird takes a nap after Saturday's work (5F in 1:00.91). Sleep tight! Don't let the bedbugs bite!

Keep an Eye on This One

One of the most interesting things about the Jonathan Sheppard-trained Dirge is that he's a 7-year-old gelding who didn't make it to the races until he was 5, and since then has only started seven times.

Another interesting thing is that Monday at Saratoga, he'll be making his second start off a nearly two-year layoff.

And here's the other interesting thing:

For those wondering why Chip Woolley is still on crutches...

See exhibits A and B:

A

B

Ouch.

Welcome Back Bird

Mine That Bird underwent successful surgery to repair an entrapped epiglottis in the Ruffian Equine Medical Center down by Belmont Park on Tuesday morning; he was back in his stall at Saratoga Tuesday night. The procedure itself, said Dr. Patricia Hogan, takes about 12 seconds, the hard part is getting the horse under anesthesia and waking him up again, which took about 45 minutes or so. "He was a total gentleman," she told us.

Waiting in the conference room with trainer Chip Woolley, exercise rider George Smith and Zak McDonald was like being in the waiting room at a hospital for people. Nervous and bored at the same time, they pass the time watching YouTube videos: The Amazing Skidboot, Louisiana Sinkhole Drains Entire Lake, Twin Baby Boys Laughing at Each Other, Amazing Holes Around the Earth, Charlie Bit Me, and, of course, the overhead replay of the Kentucky Derby.

"Right there," says Woolley, watching as Mine That Bird squeezes through a rapidly diminshing hole on the rail, "is where my whole life changed."

Woolley glances at his watch, murmuring to himself, "He should be up by now," and sure enough here comes Dr. Hogan with the great news that everything went smooth as silk. Downstairs in this amazing facility, Mine That Bird is back in his stall, hungry, and, like any human patient, anxious to get home. And, after the trio partakes of another excellent meal at King Umberto's, he's on his way!

Very Tiny Woods.

Bob Baffert has a promising 2-year-old named Tiny Woods entered in today's Grade 2 Saratoga Special. In town last week to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Baffert was asked about the colt by some reporters.

"Actually, there goes Tiny Woods now," Baffert deadpanned, gesturing to a pony belonging to his New York assistant, Tonja Terranova. (A literal pony, as in under 14.2 hands.)

Just to clear up any confusion, we believe the pony to which he was referring is actually named Ollie, pictured above. Good luck to the real Tiny Woods today!