It's a Bird 'pecks' up Spend a Buck win

Last updated: 10/18/08 6:22 PM

It’s a Bird (outside) just got up to take the Spend a Buck
(Jim Lisa Photo)

Edmund A. Gann’s IT’S A BIRD (Birdonthewire) was cross-entered to the Miami
Mile H. (G3) earlier on Calder’s Festival of the Sun program, but trainer Marty
Wolfson scratched the five-year-old out of that mile-turf test and opted for the
$100,000
Spend
a Buck H. (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. That move paid
dividends as It’s a Bird needed every step of the 8 1/2 furlongs to eke out the
head victory over a very stubborn Gottcha Gold (Coronado’s Quest).

Jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan settled It’s a Bird into fifth as 6-5 favorite
Gottcha Gold and Finallymadeit (Concerto) battled it out on the front end
through splits of :23 2/5, :46 4/5 and 1:11 4/5. Gottcha Gold shook loose from
his rival, but found It’s a Bird and Dream Maestro (Concerto) closing
strongly to his outside. It’s a Bird was the main threat, though, just getting
his head in front of a game Gottcha Gold on the wire to stop the clock in 1:46
2/5.

It’s a Bird earned his first stakes win last out in the Plagiarize S. going 1
1/2 miles and now shows a 23-8-3-1, $234,485, line. Sent off the 5-1 fourth
pick, the dark bay five-year-old paid $12, $5.80 and $4.40 to his backers while
keying the $35.60 exacta, $644.60 trifecta and $3,220 superfecta (2-1-7-6).

“I knew he would beat Gottcha Gold in this race,” said Wolfson confidently.
“He’s going to be a six-year-old gelding (next year), so we’re having fun with
him. I’ll talk with Mr. Gann about what’s next.”

Gottcha Gold suffered a tough loss while racing on the rail, giving back $3
and $2.40. Dream Maestro was another three parts of a length back in third,
returning $8.40 at 55-1, and was followed under the wire by Marnesia’s Big Boy
(Halo’s Image), who was also scratched out of the Miami Mile in favor of this
one. Completing the order of finish were Sweetnorthernsaint
(Sweetsouthernsaint), Finallymadeit, Judiths Wild Rush (Wild Rush), Whos Crying
Now (Concerto) and Hal’s My Hope (Halo’s Image).

Bred in Florida by White Cross Farm, It’s a Bird is out of stakes winner
Faithful City (Hooched) and has an unraced juvenile half-sister named Sweet
Mindi (R. Cooper) as well as a juvenile half-brother named Road to Babylon (Concorde’s
Tune). This is the same family as stakes winner How’s Your Halo (Halo’s Image),
who was second earlier this year in the Smile Sprint H. (G2), and multiple Grade
3-placed stakes victor Gold I. D. (Caller I. D.).