Posted 2009-05-03 6:23 AM (#104371) Subject: Kentucky Derby!
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Posts: 282
Location: southcentral pennsylvania
Wow! Gotta love the rags to riches story - especially with the Arabs and their multimillion dollar horses unable to accomplish what a trainer from New Mexico did with a $9500 horse! Not to mention the 21 hour ride in a pick-up truck and trailer from New Mexico to Louisville! Brings a big smile to my face! I especially loved the exuberance of the jockey...brought a tear to my eye.
Posted 2009-05-03 9:13 AM (#104376 - in reply to #104371) Subject: RE: Kentucky Derby!
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Posts: 1723
Location: michigan
Mine the Bird was purchased as a yearling for $9500 and sold last fall to the current owners for $400,000. The horse was the champion 2 yr old in canada last year winning three stake races. He shipped to california with trainer Richard Mandella and after the sale went to the barn of trainer Bennie (Chip) Woolley in New Mexico. Watch the video replay on bloodhorse.com. Calvin Borel was the biggest reason this horse won. Woolley was a QH trainer in NM and branched out to TB...seems to have worked out well for him.
Posted 2009-05-03 11:43 AM (#104382 - in reply to #104371) Subject: RE: Kentucky Derby!
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Posts: 13
Location: Taylorsville, KY
Calvin is THE reason the horse won. But he had to have the horse under him to take him all the way...so they make a great team. And yes, Calvin is great fun. There are a lot of great human stories like that at the track.
Posted 2009-05-05 9:10 PM (#104513 - in reply to #104371) Subject: RE: Kentucky Derby!
Location: KY
Homegrown said it very well....totally agree. Hope to see the team at the Preakness! Would dearly love to see a gelding win the Triple Crown, and this year is as good as any!
Posted 2009-05-17 9:24 PM (#105050 - in reply to #104371) Subject: RE: Kentucky Derby!
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Posts: 164
Location: Delaware
and then there was the Preakness... I thought Mind that Bird was a fluke on mud but he showed me wrong yesterday. He is a great little horse both on sloppy and fast track. I believe 3 more strides he would of won. Rachel is a great filly but she will need her long distance A game in 3 weeks.
Posted 2009-06-06 9:58 PM (#106064 - in reply to #104382) Subject: RE: Kentucky Derby!
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Posts: 335
Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by homegrown on 2009-05-03 11:43 AM
Calvin is THE reason the horse won. But he had to have the horse under him to take him all the way...so they make a great team. And yes, Calvin is great fun. There are a lot of great human stories like that at the track.
Looks like Calvin went to sleep at the wheel today!
Posted 2009-06-08 6:23 AM (#106104 - in reply to #106064) Subject: RE: Kentucky Derby!
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Posts: 282
Location: southcentral pennsylvania
It is easy to arm chair quaterback the race. I do not fault Calvin. It appeared it was either fight with the horse to hold him back (taking more of Mine That Bird's energy), or let him run early, as the horse wanted to do, and hope he enough gas in the tank. The T.V. commentators also did a big spread on Mine That Bird's Preakness jockey, believing that had Calvin been on board, he would have taken the rail, and won by a head.
Posted 2009-06-09 12:26 PM (#106178 - in reply to #104371) Subject: RE: Kentucky Derby!
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Posts: 250
Location: AL
Mine That Bird is still an awesome horse! The way he comes from behind is a thrill to watch. Summer Bird put on quite the show as well, charging there at the end!!
As for Calvin, you can't win them all. He is quite the jockey, tho!!
So enjoyed watching the Big 3 races this year, and pulled for Mine That Bird after watching the fantastic derby!!