Mine That Bird to miss Travers Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Mine That Bird, the long-shot winner of the Kentucky Derby, won't run in this weekend's Travers Stakes to allow more recovery time from a recent surgery.

Mine That Bird had throat surgery Aug. 18 and, while the procedure was considered successful and the horse had a workout Tuesday, trainer Chip Woolley said the decision was made "to err on the side of caution."

"We've decided to … pass this race up and aim down the road to the Breeders' Cup," Woolley said. "There's one little spot underneath the epiglottis pushing up just a tiny bit and after studying and looking at it, we're going to hold off and make sure the horse is OK and not take any chances with the rest of his career."

While Mine That Bird is out of Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the 3-year-old gelding is scheduled to run Sept. 7 in the $2 million All America Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.

The Breeders' Cup Classic, a $5 million race, is Nov. 7 in California.

Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby after going off at 50-1. The horse has earned nearly $1.9 million in six races this year.