Mine That Bird went off at 50-1 odds and was the second-biggest underdog ever to win the Derby. It was purchased for just $9,500 and beat a field that had several horses worth millions. With jockey Calvin Borel aboard, Mine That Bird pulled away from the pack on a stunningly fast stretch run, winning by almost seven lengths.
A Derby Victory for the Ages
Calvin Borel does it again. Just two years after riding Street Sense to a win in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, the heralded jockey leads 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird to a stunning victory at Churchill Downs. The second-biggest upset in Derby history resulted in a payout of $103.20 to win. Click through to see more photos from the classic race.
Al Behrman, AP
Amazingly, Mine That Bird won after beginning in last place out of the starting gate. But Borel skillfully maneuvered his colt to the rail for a comeback. "I had enough room," Borel said. "He's a small horse."
John Sommers, Reuters
Once along the rail with three-sixteenths to go, Mine That Bird turned on the speed and took control. "It was a Street Sense move," Borel said. "They can only go so fast, so far. When I hollered at him, he just went on."
Al Behrman, AP
Despite racing on a sloppy dirt track, Mine That Bird pulled off a 6 3/4-length victory -- the largest margin since Assault won by eight lengths in 1946. "It just shows you how special this race is. Anything can happen," said losing trainer Todd Pletcher.
John Gress, Reuters
Borel, who also won the Kentucky Oaks a day earlier, choked back tears and paid tribute to his parents by pointing his whip to the sky. "If they could only be here to see what I accomplish in my life," said Borel after he crossed the finish line.
Jamie Squire, Getty Images
Borel became the first jockey since 1993 to complete the Oaks-Derby double. "All I asked him was to lay the horse back and be patient, and he did that magically," said Mine That Ride trainer Bennie Woolley Jr.
Darron Cummings, AP
Woolley, who spent time on the rodeo circuit as a bareback rider, hobbled on crutches to the winner's circle. The 45-year-old from New Mexico broke his right leg in a motorcycle accident two months ago. "I'm feeling like I never have before," he said. "I was just blown away."
Brent Smith, Reuters
Pioneerof the Nile finished second and Musket Man finished third. The early favorite, I Want Revenge, was scratched from the field Saturday morning with an ankle injury. Friesan Fire went off as the favorite but finished out of the money.
Here's the order of finish:
1. Mine That Bird
2. Pioneerof the Nile
3. Musket Man
4. Papa Clem
5. Chocolate Candy
6. Summer Bird
7. Join in the Dance
8. Regal Ransom
9. West Side Bernie
10. General Quarters
11. Dunkirk
12. Hold Me Back
13. Advice
14. Desert Party
15. Mr. Hot Stuff
16. Atomic Rain
17. Nowhere to Hide
18. Friesan Fire
19. Flying Private
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-02-2009 @ 7:23PM
bigflyer said...
drug tests are in order for the horse, the jockey, and the owner.
Did any tickets sell to the Mob for the exacta at $500K for a $2 wager?
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5-02-2009 @ 7:38PM
sweetbabi3 said...
Thats a pretty stupid comment. Is it because the horse was bought so cheap, that the rider is a southern guy, and the trainer likes his Harleys...well...I am here to tell you that all those comments fit my family, and I have supported every NASA program since Apollo, and yep, I am a redneck, and my hubby had a Harley shop,and Yep we had a ranch in Colorado with 21 horses. Some from New Mexico (where this one lived) I even looked at him and wondered if he was one of the horses we sold. You are a jerk and a stupid AH.
5-02-2009 @ 8:35PM
bricbecker said...
You need to find a better pasttime than bitching about everything under the sun in these useless blogs. You realise no one remembers what you said 30 seconds after they read it, right? Get a better hobby.
5-03-2009 @ 7:46PM
Kelly said...
It was the Super Ficta with that pay out.... and there were 23 winners on a 2 dollar bet. Rarely does the favorite win in the derby and with yesterday sloppy track it was anyone's race. Most of those horse had never run on that kind of track. Just because it was a great race doesn't mean drugs were involved.
5-02-2009 @ 7:58PM
bigflyer said...
I apparently touched a very low class nerve in what passes for logic in your tiny cranium.
This is not class struggle, I merely pointed out the longshot was very profitable to anyone who had an exacta ticket and that causes suspicion with anyone connected to the nag....... horse racing is about as dead as boxing anyway. Go muck a stall, you'll feel better sweetie.
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5-02-2009 @ 8:07PM
plk101264 said...
I love it! No one talked about this horse, all the experts pickin favs as usual. Nice return on 100.00 across the board (9500.00 return). That was fun!!!
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5-02-2009 @ 8:42PM
kingmole said...
the owner is kind of a jerk. anybody see the interview with him after the race?
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5-02-2009 @ 11:44PM
Jen said...
I saw it and thought he was a major jerk as well. 'Maybe you'll think of asking me a better question'...ugh and a few minutes earlier I was feeling sorry for him having to be on crutches on his big day. Now I wish I could kick them out from under that pompous a-hole.
5-02-2009 @ 8:49PM
Gary H said...
When "Mine that Bird" wins the other two legs of the triple crown then that will be news worthy. Horse racing is a spectator sport, and it is a lot of fun to be there with all the trappings of the Kentucky Derby, but few people beyond the horse racing community really care if it was this horse, or one of the other who ran wins. What the public wants is a triple crown winner, and anything less is Ho Hum. When I see "Mine that Bird" leading by three lengths in the final leg of the triple crown, then I will get excited.
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5-02-2009 @ 9:00PM
jim said...
FIRE WHAT A DOG!!!!!!!!!!~
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5-03-2009 @ 12:31AM
notynot5 said...
Amen bigflyer, If this horse was not on something they have been holding him back!!! This horse does not figue at all. Everyone thought Giacoma was unreal at least he had some speed figures in the 90's and was coming from Santa Anita track which favored speed and Giacoma was closing on those. I think this horse was manipulated in some way. I don't care what the track conditions were. In every derby race for the past twenty years you can make a case for each winner. You can make no case for Mine that Bird. I will never bet again!! I bet I talked to 50 seasoned bettors and not one of them even put Mine that bird in a exotic, most even reported scratching him off the program first-the horse did not measure up at all in any way.
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5-03-2009 @ 2:36AM
ready2bet said...
This Derby is a wash as far as the sport is concerned. The horse will have it up against him to win the Triple Crown, and besides, he is a gelding, so he has no residual value as a stallion, and cannot leave a legacy. YAWN. Anyhow, the horses training was not compromised, he has the bloodline of Raise a Native on both sides of his pedigree,(off track) he has a good bloodline anyhow,and lets face it, he got the trip, and once settled back there, as Calvin said, he skipped over the track, to victory.
BTW, the exacta for $2 was 2something thousand, the trifecta for $2 was 40something thousand, and the $1 SUPERFECTA was worth half a mill.
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5-03-2009 @ 2:55AM
tinany30 said...
i think you all r a bunch of sore loosers.it is what it is..dont read into 2 it ..ya gootti luv the under dog..whateva...:)
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5-03-2009 @ 10:29AM
rugbymom said...
I was thrilled that a 50-1 shot won the derby and loved the reaction of the winning jockey, However, the owner was arrogant and rude to the reporter interviewing him after his win. This horse won't win the Triple Crown and racing will never ever see the like of Big Red, the BEST RACE HORSE OF ALL TIME EVER AGAIN.
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5-03-2009 @ 11:47AM
leofsullivan said...
The win was marred by the owner's ignorance and arrogance-now he is what is called a "horse's ass"-obviously, he is less than intelligent and has no idea how to speak in public. His interview ruined the whole excitement of the surprising upset. Hopefully, he will go back to where he came from and read up on manners and how to respond to questions in an interview. What a moron!!!
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5-04-2009 @ 11:13PM
samuel katchen said...
guys..the winner traces back to unbridled (derby winner)..grindstone (derby winner)...and birdstone (belmont winner)..trust me ..he belonged..and also, the track was drying out from the day's rains and was what they call in the sport, cuppy which means tiring for all those that go out to fast early...as calvin said after the race, "no one was runnin late except him"..hats off to him for a beautiful ride..expect a big bounce if runs in the preakness..he's had his day, but may return for the belmont..keep an eye on summer bird for big things down the road also....
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5-03-2009 @ 10:32PM
raymond said...
sounds like bunch people bet, on the wrong horse,and yes that would be called sore loser's if you cant pick winner,then dont blame the horse ,he done his job,and what's wrong with horse,winning that dont cost a million,stupied people,wake up
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5-04-2009 @ 8:36AM
bigflyer said...
Raymond,
There's nothing wrong with a horse winng the Derby. I do not bet on horseracing anyway.
It just seems suspicious to me the favorite was scratched the morning of the race, then a field filler horse who was purchased for $9,500 at the yearling sale, rockets to the front on a cuppy track after being bumped on the start, and wins by 7 and a half lengths while being a 50 to 1 shot. This was the Derby, not a claiming race where the field is French horsemeat.
Too coincidental for me to believe, especially in a sport who's influence is waining to the point that the next leg of the race, The Preakness of Baltimore is being run on a track that is bankrupt and may not exist in a few years.
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5-04-2009 @ 10:58PM
john durst said...
Congrat's to Calvin and Mine that Bird. That was totally awesome!
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5-05-2009 @ 12:31PM
GalavantingGal said...
Mine That Bird fascinates me......I love looking at the lineage and ancestry of these amazing creatures, and it is of course not very surprising that Mine That Bird has Irish heritage, like many of us!
Check this out: http://www.irishcentral.com/sport/more_sport/-Mine-That-Birds-Famous-Irish-Ancestor-44361197.html
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