Kentucky Derby

The 135th addition of the Run for the Roses had only liquid sunshine as the track was sloppy when the gates opened on the 19 3-years olds who would run a mile and a quarter chasing history and a portion of the $2 plus million dollars’ in purse. The sun was shinning though on a 3-year-old gelding from the most unlikely place of New Mexico. There were horses that arrived by special van, in chartered planes pampered by their owners who had spent millions in search of a Derby win. In the end it was a $9,500 purchase that traveled in the back of a horse trailer pulled by a pick up truck driven by the trainer Chip Wooley that stole the day.

Mine That Bird’s trainer Bennie Wooley, right, hugs jockey Calvin Borel.

Mine That Bird ridden by Calvin “On the Rail” Borel galloped to a 6 ¾ lengths victory in the 135th Kentucky Derby over runner up Pioneerof the Nile. With 19 horse’s breaking on a sloppy track many though, that location, as in real estate, was everything.

“I’d like a clear trip,” was the phrase uttered by all prior to the race. At the break, Mine That Bird had one horse beaten into the first turn. So much for location.

As expected Regal Ransom and Join in the Dance led from the start cutting out fractions of a half in 47.1 and the 6-furlong in 1:12. At the one mile mark Regal Reason tossed it in with Join in the Dance taking over the lead with Pioneering the Nile second but ready to pounce. At the top of the stretch Pioneerof the Nile, kept put of trouble by jockey Garrett Gomez, was about four wide as he went into the lead.

On the wet, track a horse either had to be rubbing the inside rail or four wide.

Mine That Bird was 12th but riding the rail.

While most of the 130,000 fans under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs were taking a sip of their mint juleps, they were watching a potential duel for the win between Pioneerof the Nile and Musket Man, Mine That Bird came flying up the rail to blow the Derby wide open.

Once in the home stretch mine That Bird took the lead by a length, which would eventually be almost 7 at the finish. Pioneer in The Nile would hang a nose on Musket Man after a heated battle for second. Therefore, after a 20-hour trip Mine the Bird needed just 2:02.6 for the win in the Run for the Roses.

Backers of Mine That Bird were rewarded with $103.20, $54.00 and $25.80. Pioneerof the Nile returned $8.40 for place and $6.40 for the show dough. Musket Man collects $12.00 for the show. Calvin Borel’s second Derby wins this jockey in three years. In 2007, he used the same “up the rail tactic” to steer Street Sense to stirring victory. When pre race favorite I Want Revenge was scratched on the morning of the race the favorite’s role fell to Friesian Fire who was a well-beaten 18th. One to watch in the future is the well be Dunkirk who stumbled badly at the start and took himself out of the race.

Calvin Borel reacts after riding Mine That Bird to a victory

Calling Mine That Bird’s win a upset would be a understatement of gigantic proportions. Mine That Bird has now captured the first jewel in the Triple Crown. Shortly after the race a tearful Calvin Borel said, “We’ll probably pack him up and head him home.” Maybe not as the lure of the Preakness in Baltimore on May 16th is only 2 weeks away so the temptation has to be great to move on like Indiana Jones and capture the Holy Grail of racing. .