Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

mark connor — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:32:07 GMT

This horse has been handled wrong, starting after the Belmont last year. It wasn't the trainer, it's the owners. Mine that bird is a good horse, not great, but somewhere in between. If someone will pick the right races for him, and make sure he is ready to go, he will win a lot more races. I don't think lucas is the trainer for him, but we will see.

good luck bird, with your owners you are going to need it.

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Glenn Craven — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 01:48:08 GMT

Certainly polar-opposite comments here, particularly from Draynay and CKroger.

Wins the Firecracker by 15? ... I think a safer bet might be that MTB would finish 15th if they'd let AE-list horse Baryshnikov start, too, from outside the gate.

Kidding aside, MTB doesn't have a hopeless pedigree for grass, and certainly Smart Strike as the dam-sire might help. But Smart Strike is far from a turf specialist at stud and there isn't all that much grass performance anywhere else in MTB's pedigree, aside from Birdstone's second dam, Hush Dear, who was several times a G2 winner on the lawn.

This is an incredibly tough group, with Tizdejavu (six grass wins, four stakes, three graded) and even the 20/1 shots include G3 turf winner Orthodox and Driving Snow(GB), the only horse ever to defeat Sea the Stars (as juvenile maidens in the U.K.).

Could Lukas have possibly picked any tougher assignment for MTB's comeback?

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

william — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:58:21 GMT

mine that bird ...is the strongest closer...lets wait 3 more races, this one is a little test lucas know that, so relax.everybody

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Ian Tapp — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:25:28 GMT

draynay,

Your reputation precedes you!

You certainly bring excitement to every blog, so welcome to TrueNicks!!

Ian

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Judy G ~ California — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:19:04 GMT

John Henry was also known as a "fluke", but he sure proved a lot to those worthless, low-life, miserable, nothing-better-to-do-than-degrade-horses kind of person who likes to post on every forum there is because they have a boring life ;-) LOL

A good old bite or kick out John Henry would have put this person out of his misery a long time ago and saved us from his repetitive postings that are as old as he is! HA HA HA

At least John Henry found love and undersanding, whereas this "poster", obviously, still feels insecure, lonely, and unloved. Hopeless human being :-)

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

CKroger — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:39:41 GMT

I'll say it again. "The Fluke" is 2010 HOY. Maybe even Champion Turf Horse after he wins the Firecracker by 15.

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Lisa — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:48:30 GMT

Even though his pedigree doesn't scream turf, he has a few highlights. Smart Strike sired English Channel champion turf male and Northern Dancer sired Lyphard whose best American son was Manila a grass horse. I think it gives him a good chance, if he is as ready to run as his workouts seem to indicate, I think he will be the horse to beat.

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

draynay — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:29:00 GMT

MTB aka "The Fluke" will never win another race in his life. It's time to give it up,the 2009 KY Derby was a joke and a joke won. I'm shocked the DW Lukas is now accepting other peoples rejects. Is he that desperate?

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Ian Tapp — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:10:21 GMT

racingheart,

Yeah, the mile could pose an issue. If he runs, Lukas would be taking an old school approach. It was common for dirt/distance/handicap horses to prep in sprint and/or turf stakes races a few decades ago.

Ian

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

racingheart — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:01:27 GMT

I too am more concerned about the mile than the turf. I just wish that they could have gotten a dirt race in there before he runs on the dirt.

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Robert — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:46:27 GMT

His sire's dam is by Storm Bird. His dam is by Smart Strike. His 2nd dam is by Vice Regent. If that is not enough turf breeding up close in the pedigree....Go Figure. The distance may be too short though. A lot of sprinters get a mile when running on the turf. I don't really understand one thing about Mine That Bird. How in the world is his dosage 5.40. Belmont winner, Derby winner, Derby winner are his 1st three sires. His broodmare sire is a better distance sire as is his 2nd damsire. And listing Unbridled as a B/I sire is a joke. He is a stamina influence from the word go. I will be putting my $2 down on The Bird whatever race he goes in.

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

CKroger — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:45:45 GMT

Horse of the Year. Hands down. Horse of the Decade even.

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Lecylue — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:42:35 GMT

He has ran good in the mud, in the dirt, and on the beach at Belmont. LOL. I don't see why not try him on the turf. It's like Wayne said, if he don't win, at least they will get a race of some kind under him before he meets the others at the Whitney. I have been following his works since Wayne got him and he has been awesome which is probably why no one wanted to race him in the allowance. I just think its bad to make him carry high weight in his first race after eight months, and on a surface he has never ran on, but such is horse racing. I look forward to seeing him. Go Little Bird Go.

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Lucy — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:41:52 GMT

I think this might be a mistake..the way this horse moves over the ground, he's a dirt horse!! I think he'll end up spinning his wheels on the turf and wind up out of the money. Hope he wins/run well though, love the little guy!

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

Hiram — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:24:53 GMT

I like the way this gelding runs, Althought, I believe he can be closer up to the pace, He is a good closer so he ought to be able to run the Turf well.

re: Poll Question: Mine That Bird on Turf?

cevesc — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:19:22 GMT

hmmmm... maybe Smart Strike as damsire will help?