Horse racing
After surgery, Mine That Bird to skip Shadwell Travers
Owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach and trainer Chip Woolley announced Wednesday that Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will not enter Saturday's 140th running of the Grade I, $1 million Shadwell Travers, citing continued concerns about an entrapped epiglottis that was repaired Aug. 18. "We've decided to err on the side of caution and 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." Since discovering the entrapped epiglottis after a workout Aug. 17, Mine That Bird's connections said they would not run the gelding if he were anything less than 100 percent healthy. The surgery, performed at the Ruffian Equine Medical Center in Elmont, N.Y., was pronounced a success, and the gelding has had three endoscopic examinations in the week after the procedure. No specific plans were outlined for where Mine That Bird might make his next start, but his connections said they would consider the Grade I Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 10
