HORSE RACING

• Mine That Bird and Zenyatta set for action at Santa Anita

  
  

  Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and champion mare Zenyatta return to the races Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita Park for the their final prep races leading to the Breeders' Cup in November. Santa Anita will also be the scene for the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships on November6 and 7.

  Mine That Bird, trained by Chip Woolley, faces older thoroughbreds for the first time in the $350,000 Goodwood Stakes. Seeking his first win since the Run for the Roses, the three-year-old gelding will be reunited with jockey Calvin Borel for the 1 1/8 mile Goodwood. The pair will start from the far outside post in the 10 horse field.

  Borel was aboard the gelding in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, but rode Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Mike Smith had the mount for the Preakness and West Virginia Derby, two races where the three-year-old finished third.

  "He's gone to the track every morning since we've been here," said Woolley, "and I really like the way he's striding out on this racetrack. We're real happy with the Pro-Ride here.

  It seems really kind and he's getting a good hold of it.

  "He seems to be really on his game. I know 10 weeks (since the West Virginia Derby) is a little too long between races, but overall, he's doing super. A mile and one eighth is a little short for him too. We'd rather have a mile and a quarter, but I think he'll show up Saturday." Owned by Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach, Mine That Bird has earned nearly $1.9 million this year with the one win in six starts. In his two-year career he has won five times in a dozen starts for almost $2.2 million.

  Here is the complete field for the 28th Goodwood in post order: Chocolate Candy, Victor Espinoza; Tiago, Mike Smith; Richard's Kid, Alex Solis; Colonel John, Garrett Gomez; Tres Borrachos, Joe Talamo; Monzante, Joel Rosario; Parading, Rafael Bejarano; Gitano Hernando, Kieren Fallon; Informed, Michael Baze and Mine That Bird, Calvin Borel.

  Undefeated five-year-old mare Zenyatta goes after her second straight win in Saturday's $300,000 Lady's Secret Stakes. The Eclipse Award winning female will take on seven rivals in the 1 1/16 mile race.

  Zenyatta will again be ridden by Mike Smith for owners Jerry and Ann Moss, and trainer John Shirreffs. The champ has drawn post five.

  "She's run some pretty big races over this track," Smith said about Santa Anita.

  "I don't think the surface really matters. One of her best races was probably on the dirt at Oaklawn, but her Breeders' Cup last year here was awfully impressive.

  She seems to run over anything you put her on, and it doesn't seem to matter to her whether there's pace or no pace. She gets the job done every time, and I'm just blessed to be part of it." Zenyatta is perfect in 12 career starts, including three this year, with earnings of just under $2.6 million. Her last start was a head victory over Anabaa's Creation in the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar.

  Here is the field in post position order for the 17th Lady's Secret: Cocoa Beach, Migliore; Sweet and Flawless, Joel Rosario; Made for Magic, Omar Berrio; Life Is Sweet, Garrett Gomez; Zenyatta, Mike Smith; Lethal Heat, Alex Solis; Briecat, Martin Garcia; and Anabaa's Creation, Rafael Bejarano. Each will carry 123 pounds except the three-year-old Sweet and Flawless, who totes 120.

  Both races will be televised on ESPN with the Goodwood set for 6:30 p.m. (et) and the Lady's Secret at 7 p.m. (et).

  10/07 19:00:47 ET