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Joe Talamo rides Mine That Bird at a morning workout Monday in preparation for the Breeders Cup.

Girolamo has never raced on a synthetic surface, beyond one mile, or around two turns. He is 3 for 3 this year, and enters the race off a victory in the Grade 2 Jerome, a one-turn mile at Belmont Park.

"Girolamo has a lot to overcome," Mettee said. "Two turns, synthetic, and a mile and a quarter for the first time."

Regal Ransom comes off a gate-to-wire victory in the Super Derby. He was eighth in the Kentucky Derby in his only try at 1 1/4 miles.

Regardless of how Mine That Bird does on Saturday, Woolley said he will get a well-deserved rest.

"He'll be turned out in New Mexico," Woolley said. "He's been up all year. He needs a little rest, 45 to 60 days off. Then we'll see what to do in the spring."

Two other Classic runners - Colonel John and Richard's Kid - also completed their preparations on Monday morning.

Colonel John, with exercise rider Yuttah Lang aboard, covered five furlongs in 59.22 seconds for trainer Eoin Harty. He was second in the Goodwood in his last start.

"He worked really well," Harty said. "He worked like he normally does."

Richard's Kid, third in the Goodwood last time out after scoring an upset win in Del Mar's Pacific Classic, was timed by Daily Racing Form working five furlongs in 1:01.11 with ex-jockey Joe Steiner aboard.

"He went nice," trainer Bob Baffert said. "He finished up on his own. I think he's a lot better now than he was for the Pacific Classic. His last race, I didn't do a lot with him because he ran so hard in the Pacific Classic. But it's a tough race. You need a lot of luck."

Twice Over, who arrived over the weekend from Europe, got out of quarantine and went to the track for the first time, and merely walked Monday morning.

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