US classic winners Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra will return to racing this weekend and they are both favoured to start their summer campaigns on a winning note.

Kentucky Derby hero Mine That Bird (Birdstone) is scheduled to run in the G2 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park on Saturday while champion filly Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) faces a much tougher assignment in the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

The West Virginia Derby will be Mine That Bird’s first start since he finished third in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 6.   Trainer Chip Woolley considered running the colt in the Haskell, however, while both races are over 1800m, the Derby looked a better fit.

“I would have loved to run Mine That Bird in the Haskell.  There’s a lot of money there, a lot of prestige. But the problem is that if you’re not within five or six lengths of the lead early at Monmouth, you have no chance.

“When we decided to come to West Virginia, we didn’t know Rachel Alexandra was going to the Haskell,” Woolley continued.  “We thought she might go after Zenyatta.  I was kind of surprised, although Monmouth suits Rachel Alexandra’s running style.”

Rachel Alexandra has won her last seven starts, including a 20 length victory in the Kentucky Oaks in May and a dominating 19 length score in the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) in June.  She sandwiched a G1 against the colts in the Preakness Stakes between those wins.

Trainer Steve Asmussen, who is operating under a stay of proceedings after being suspended for a positive swab, said the filly had been working well at Saratoga in readiness for the Haskell.

“She’s doing extremely well,” Asmussen stated.  “It’s a tall order but we’re excited about the opportunity.”

Rachel Alexandra will attempt to become only the second filly to claim the Haskell after Hall of Famer Serena’s Song in 1995.