Mine That Bird: Travers Stakes has come too soon after throat surgery

  PICTURE: Ethel Riser/Mountaineer  

Mine That Bird ruled out of Travers Stakes

USA: Shock Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will not run in Saturday's Travers Stakes at Saratoga as connections will not risk the colt, who is recovering from throat surgery.

Mine That Bird has not won since his Churchill Downs heroics, finishing placed in both remaining legs of the Triple Crown before claiming third in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby last time out.

"We've decided to err on the side of caution. We're going to pass this race up and aim down the road at the Breeders' Cup," trainer Chip Woolley told the Daily Racing Form on Wednesday.

Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird and Quality Road, whose Triple Crown bid was derailed by injury, were among the seven confirmed runners for the Grade 1 contest and are likely to play a major role in proceedings.

The progressive Kensei, Hold Me Back, Charitable Man, Warrior's Reward and Our Edge complete the field.

Travers Stakes
Coral: 11-8 Quality Road, 7-2 Summer Bird, 9-2 Kensei, 6 Charitable Man, 12 Our Edge, 14 Warrior's Reward, 25 Hold Me Back