Won Derby with 50-1 Mine That Bird
Trainer Bennie L. "Chip" Woolley Jr, best known for guiding Mine That Bird to an upset win in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, has been summarily suspended by stewards in Arizona for unspecified "prohibited acts."
Woolley's summary suspension came via a stewards ruling issued on Tuesday. A full hearing into the matter is scheduled for next Tuesday, according to the Paulick Report.
Woolley could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
In its ruling, the board of stewards noted Woolley is “hereby suspended and denied access to all grounds under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Department of Racing pending a hearing before the Board of Stewards to answer charges of actions that call into question the best interests of racing, and the safety, welfare, economy, health and peace of the people of the state as well.”
Woolley had four horses entered at Turf Paradise on Tuesday and all were scratched. He has seven horses currently entered at Turf Paradise and Sunland Park through next Tuesday, which presumably will also be scratched.
This season Woolley has saddled three winners from 30 starters at Turf Paradise and Sunland Park. Last year, Woolley had a career-high 280 starters. He posted a record of 28-43-58 with earnings of US$617,950. His previous high for starters in year was 225 back in 2012.
Woolley and Mine That Bird shocked the racing world in 2009 when rallying to a 50-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby. He would go on to finish second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont. Mine That Bird was retired after the 2010 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with a record of 18: 5-2-2 and earnings of US $2,228,637 for owners Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine.
