Birdbird is coming off a close sixth place finish in the seven and a half furlong Pete Axthelm at Calder on December 29. The Pure Prize colt breezed four furlongs on Monday at Gulfstream in 48.40 with Castellano up and all concerned feel that Birdird will be a threat at the mile and an eighth distance of the Millions.
Kenny McPeek told the Blood Horse:
“He’s doing very well and had some significant time off with this race in mind,” trainer Ken McPeek said of Birdbirdistheword’s break, which lasted from May until a sixth-place run in Pete Axthelm Stakes at Calder Dec. 29. “This is a restricted race with a lot of money on the table and he’s doing well enough to try, but he still has something to prove as an older horse. If he gets it done Saturday, we’ll go from there, but if not we’ll take a step back and take a more conservative route.”
Javier Castellano will ride and break from post five.
Birdbird is a graduate of the August 2005 OBS sale where Ray Cottrell Sr acquired the son of Pure Prize out of Berchta for $32,000. Birdbird has gone on to earn $716,987.
Update: Birdbird's little half-sister Lady Lido (Lido Palace) brought a bid of $14,000 at this month's OBS sale.
