Mine That Bird

From AlexBrownRacing

2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird (foaled May 10, 2006 in Kentucky) was an improbable winner of the toughest horse race in America. Sent off at 50-1, the diminutive gelding was last down the backside, made a phenomenal move to win the race by the largest winning margin since Assault in 1946. His win was considered a fluke by many, horsemen included. His second place finish in the Preakness Stakes, behind Rachel Alexandra, convinced everybody that Mine That Bird is for real.

Mine That Bird was a $9,500 Fasig Tipton Sales purchase. He received his early education at Pine Valley Training Center with Paul and Gemini Caine. He bacame Canadian champion 2yo in 2008 for trainer David Cotey and jockey Chantal Sutherland (Note: Constant Montpellier rode Mine That Bird in his first two starts). After a successful Canadian campaign, he was sold for $400,000 and ran last in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Turned over to trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley, he was defeated in both his 2009 starts in New Mexico. Mine That Bird then reemerged under Calvin Borel in the Kentucky Derby. He then finished second in the Preakness Stakes with jockey Mike Smith. In an unprecedented move, Calvin Borel had elected to forgo the ride on the Derby winner in the Preakness in order to ride Rachel Alexandra. Calvin Borel was reunited with Mine That Bird for the Belmont. They finished third.

Mine That Bird's next start was the West Virginia Derby on August 1. Calvin Borel was replaced as he was unable to commit to Mine That Bird for the longer term. Mike Smith was back on board. Mine That Bird finished third behind Soul Warrior and Big Drama. Mike Smith accepted the blame for a poor ride.

Mine That Bird did not start in the Travers Stakes, as planned, as he was recovering from throat surgery. An entrapped epiglottis was discovered during an endoscopic exam after a workout ahead of the Travers. He returned to New Mexico to lead a parade on Labor Day: Mine That Bird stabled at Ruidoso Downs His next two scheduled starts are the Goodwood and Breeders' Cup Classic, Borel will be back on board: Borel to reunite with Mine That Bird

1 Photos
2 Pedigree and Racing Information
3 News Articles
4 Videos

[edit]

Photos

Photos of Mine That Bird on Flickr

large_Horse%20roses.jpg

[edit]

Pedigree and Racing Information

Pedigree

Trainer: Bennie L. Woolley, Jr.

Jockey: Mike E. Smith

Owner: Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine

Strengths: Shown the ability to stretch out in distance by winning 4 straight races in Canada as each distance increased. Extremely tactical and patient, he can sit a close-up second in :45 or :49, a wonderful and rare quality for a 2-year-old.

Weaknesses: Regionally tops at Woodbine. Average margin of victory in just over a length, so he has not put away the competition in short fields historically. Shocked the field at odds of 50-1 by winning the 135th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2, 2009.

Race Record: 11 5-2-1

Date	Race	Finish
08/01/2009	West Virginia Derby (Mountaineer Park)	3rd
06/06/2009	Belmont Stakes (Belmont)	3rd
05/16/2009	Preakness Stakes (Pimlico)	2nd
05/02/2009	Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs)	1st
03/29/2009	Sunland Derby (Sunland Park)	4th
02/28/2009	Borderland Derby (Sunland Park)	2nd
10/25/2008	Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Santa Anita)	12th
10/05/2008	Grey S. (G3 Woodbine)	1st
09/14/2008	Swynford S. (Woodbine)	1st
08/23/2008	Silver Deputy S. (Woodbine)	1st
08/04/2008	Maiden Claiming (Woodbine)	1st
07/20/2008	Maiden Special Weight (Woodbine)	5th