A Local's View of Mine That Bird

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Vet/Vet — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:08:46 GMT

It appears that Mine That Bird is a real challenge to any other horse currently racing (except, of course the great Rachel A.)if

a. He doesn't get too excited in the trip from the backside to the starting gate,

b. He gets settled until he's ready to unleash his 3 furlongs to win, and

c. he doesn't get blocked on the rail or forces so far out on the turns that he's running tgtwice the distance as the rail huggers.

Would your experts please comment on these aspects of his performance and what they mean for the B.C.?

Thank you very much.

P.S. if you can send a copy to my e-mail address it would be much appreciated. I'll look for it in the column but can't alwways get it.

Thanks again.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

smartyjones1 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:20:24 GMT

i saw mind that birds work on 8-17-09...at the spa,,,no offense,,,he's not much to look at and i still stand by my comments after the derby that this horse will not win another graded stakes in this country,,,or any other for that matter,,,

it's time for the owners to fess up and admit that all was not as it appeared to be the first saturday in may...

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Abbie Knowles — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:03:47 GMT

Mine that Bird's Kentucky Derby win was no fluke. He was the best on the day! Even Calvin Borel cannot win without the horse being capable of doing the racing. Both he and Mike Smith have admitted to riding him wrongly in subsequent races!

He and his team are lovely. Stop criticizing them bigotted Draynay and co!

Mine that Bird rules ok!

C'mon boy show that jerk how good you are!

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Michele-NM — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:45:05 GMT

Great blog! Thanks to all of you who love our New Mexico Kentucky Derber winner, Mine That Bird. And, for the one person I have spoted on this blog criticizing him, that's your right, but why don't you just give him a break. Like some of you have said, he's a great horse, has wonderful spirit and a big heart. And we in New Mexico are so proud he belongs to us.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Karen2 — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:48:41 GMT

Rechelle and Not a MTB fan...you don't have to "like" the horse but the horse deserves some credit. He is no where near a "fluke". BD should have smoked him by all rights considering the 11lb weight difference, but he only beat him by a length. Please people, give the horse the respect he deserves. Although a jockey makes a big difference, last I saw, its the horse doing the running. Give me a break. The more talented horses had bad trips????? more excuses.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

JoeSchmo — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:40:48 GMT

Kudos to Mine That Bird, although he may not have came in first place, he does and has this year,so far, always comes in the money.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Rechelle — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:53:08 GMT

Draynay, I never thought I would see the day this happened .... I completely, 110% agree with you about Mine That Bird.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Not a MTB Fan — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:52:04 GMT

Why can't people just come to accept and realize that MTB was truly a 50 to 1 longshot who was a fluke winner of the Kentucky Derby??? What has he shown us since his win in the KD? Absolutely, positively nothing. Until he becomes more consistent, he does not deserve to be called a great horse. He is, quite simply, an adequate horse who got lucky in the Kentucky Derby. He won because the 3 best 3yos this year didn't run the KD (Quality Road, I Want Revenge & Old Fashioned) and because the more talented horses had bad trips (Friesan Fire, Summer Bird) or didn't like the sloppy track (Pioneerof The Nile). MTB did not win the KD because he is a talented horse, he won it because of a superior ride by the jockey and because the more talented horses either didn't run or didn't like the track.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Karen in Indiana — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:43:40 GMT

Considering the weight differences and that it was his first race back after a break, I thought MTB did well. Mike Smith and Chip Woolley are two really upfront guys and earned respect after the race by not giving excuses. This horse will do better as time goes on and, hopefully, he'll be able to have the same jockey finish out the season on him.

I thought Fox Sports coverage was head and shoulders over ESPN, NBC or ABC's coverage of the TC races, mainly because they had people who actually work in horse racing tv being commentators.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

LuvTheHorses — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:21:49 GMT

I wish that Mine That Bird had won his race and I still love him, but it just wasn't his day

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

kmb08 — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:53:51 GMT

MTB is great! Wasn't he the smallest horse in the field, and yet, carried the most weight?? If that is the case, he is the clear winner by any objective analysis! I love his big heart!!! I'm a Rachel fan, but I love this little guy!! What a darn fine race horse he is!!!!I really dislike the way the racing assoc. determines weight imposts. I understand it makes the betting more challenging, but it certainly isn't fair, nor does it give an accurate assessment of which horse is best.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Tiznowbaby — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:38:54 GMT

Interesting comments from Smith. It was a bit of a dilema.

I wonder if they've given any thought to trying him in a turf route. He ran very well on synth last year, and his style makes me curious to see what he would do on grass.

I can't help but like him. He's an honest, neat little horse.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

War Admiral — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:35:13 GMT

Cool blog. Would have loved more reports from the backside. It's so awesome of his connections to run him here. Good luck Bird - THE BIRD IS THE WORD!

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

tommy tabasco — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:35:27 GMT

MTB is in the WVDerby because the track sets up for him. The Haskell was ruled out because Monmouth always has been a speed track.

At 111, I think Drama gets it done today, and then goes back to his specialty which is sprinting.

No matter what happens today, the best 3YO will be running tomorrow, and MTB and Rachael are both prepping for a great re-match in Saratoga.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

william — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:00:32 GMT

m t bird will be your worst dream Draynay...sorry for you

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

GunBow — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:56:35 GMT

The Bird team really can't cry about the weights. As Gulchfan pointed out, the West Virginia Derby is not a handicap; the wieghts were part of the conditions of the race. The weight assignments did not fall from the sky at the last minute, nor were the "Bird" team ambushed. Chip and the rest of the team had known since they committed to the race after the Belmont that Bird would have to carry 122 lbs(as a grade 1 winner in 2009). They also knew that unless Summer Bird, Rachel, or Quality Road also started, Bird would be conceding weight to his West Virginia opponents. Given that this information was known to the Bird team ex ante and that no one is forcing them to run, I do not see the weight spread as "unfair".

This is not to say that the weight spread will not have an impact, or that the Bird team was not unlucky that Big Drama is only going to carry 111 lbs. Big Drama just happens to be able to exploit the conditions of the race; although Big Drama was a graded stakes winner at 2 and crossed the wire first in the grade 2 Swale earlier this year, he is a non-winner of a Sweepstakes at one mile or over in 2009, and thus qualifies for the lowest weight assignment possible for the West Virginia Derby.

As with most others, I do not believe there is an 11 lbs difference in the ability of Mine That Bird and Big Drama. Typically, I do not place too much importance on weight when handicapping, but 11 lbs. is a significant spread. Combine this weight advantage with what should be a fairly soft pace, and Big Drama looks very tough. I am not sure Big Drama wants 10 furlongs, but with no clear pace challenger and that featherweight assignment, he should have no excuse not to get the 9 furlongs of the W.V. Derby.

I fully respect Mine That Bird and think he is the frontrunner for the 3 year old male Eclipse. And while I think he will put in his typical late charge, Big Drama does appear to hold some huge advantages.

I also expect a solid run from Woodbine export, Awesome Rhythm, a winner of 3 straight non-graded stakes at middle distances on Polytrack before a loss on soft turf. He should be perfectly positioned to beat Mine That Bird to the punch and make the first run at Big Drama. Whether he can get to Big Drama and hold off the Bird remains to be seen.

Is anyone going to be at Mountaineer in person for the race?

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

BArbara W — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:03:05 GMT

The Bird's still the word! He's proven he has the drive and the heart. If Big Drama manages to win, I'm betting MTB will be in the money alongside. God keep you safe, little man!

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

schabelli — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:53:13 GMT

MTB giving 11 pounds to Big Drama? Did I see that right somewhere or is that a mistake? If MTB pulls this one off giving that much weight he'll really prove himself then to the "nay sayers". 11 pounds and an easy lead is nesr impossible to overcome. Go MTB!!!!!!!!

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

ABZ — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:31:44 GMT

Respect for Mine That Bird, but...I don't like his chances to beat Big Drama. Big Drama should make it 8 for 10 finishing first.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Asst. Hotwalker — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:24:05 GMT

MTB is for real. I never doubt, or like to bet against the Ky. Derby winner.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

jamesb — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:19:59 GMT

Gulchfan:

That's what I mean. The conditions need to be re-written. They could even start the weights at 118 and add weight for "winners of" - I know that sounds crazy too but, but 2yo BACKTALK won the Sanford today carrying 121.

No good reason a 3yo coming off a stakes (albeit not graded) win should be carrying only 111 lbs in a Gr II in August.

Smart move by Fawkes to bring him here though. Similar to Helen Pitts-Blasi getting Einstein a weight break on the KY Derby undercard because he hadn't won a turf race in X number of days. Even though he had won the Big Cap.

Not so sure if MTB wouldn't have been better off in the Haskell though. At least the weights would have been more equal.

We will find out more Saturday & Sunday though.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Draynay — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:37:38 GMT

Karen2 I just don't get it. The Derby mud winner won the Derby and that is it. He is following the path of Giacamo and and it appears he will not win another race ALL YEAR. So far since the Derby he is 0 for 2. How many more can he lose before you say, "hmmm maybe he was a fluke winner?" By the way before the Derby from January through May 1st the Derby mud winner had 0 wins.

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

Freetex — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:56:13 GMT

Emotional, I admit, but, I will betting on MTB to win. I believe Wooley knows what he is doing or at least has committed to for this race.

GulchFan, I appreciate the information and your thoughts.

The 11 pounds still steams me!

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

sweet terchi — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:26:22 GMT

Go MTB!! Good luck and come in with a win!! As for Chip Woolley....as always, a gentleman .

re: A Local's View of Mine That Bird

JudyLovesGeldingsLikeJohnHenry — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:26:58 GMT

Bellwether: "...plain brown wrapper..." Love it!

MTB is a little horse with a BIG HEART and willing to give it his all. Reminds me of another great "closer" gelding, John Henry.

Birdie ~ JH will be right there with you little guy. He'll help you along with that famous closing kick! :-) Come home safely. That's the number #1 priority.