As I was watching the post parade and they mentioned his $9500 price tag, I said to husband, wouldn’t that be a hoot if that horse beat the million-dollar ones? I also thought he was a nice looking little horse, being an old fossil as I am, something about him reminded me of the Northern Dancer family of racehorses. Northern Dancer stamped all his offspring with a certain look - compact little bay horses with excellent conformation and movement, kind of a “hunter” look compared to typical racers. After the race, I just had to look up his pedigree, and sure enough, Northern Dancer on both sides. Maybe this little guy will turn out to be a throwback to the good old days, and make this a fun triple crown season! I bet the person who decided to geld him, has some regrets this evening…
That was kinda of my point …he really was a already known to be a quality horse…not rags to riches…other than he was a pretty affordable yearling (probably because his dam was unraced and he was her first?..bet her next one goes for a pretty penny). That makes sense about the odds, having not had much success since he changed hands…I thought that might have had something to do with it. It does really demostrate that there are a lot of factors in making (and keeping) a successful race horse (as well as a bit of luck;)). I sure hope he continues to have success.
[QUOTE=Beverley;4065135]
For those who expressed concern that no one was ‘fussing’ over the horse- you might consider the possibility that some horses just don’t like being fussed over- I have owned a couple such. Even if that’s not the case, really, I don’t see the big deal and am surprised it was mentioned.[/QUOTE]
I just like to see horses treated more like living animals and less like inanimate race cars. Good PR for the sport, and all that.
BRILLLLLLLLLLIANT!!! I adore Calvin. What a guy. 2 incredible runs in 2 days. Good for him. Good for racing.
Gosh I just love an underdog, love the way NBC was ranting about the front runners and took a few seconds to even announce Mine That Bird was the front runner - lol…almost like he couldn’t believe it, much less announce it…just very funny.
As the owner of 3 OTTBs that now have great new careers, I’m always for the underdog…just unbelieveable - I don’t bet on ponies but this is one time I wish I had put a ten spot on that pony to win…lol…
as an aside, I have one OTTB that would just as soon not be fussed over, he HATES it, wants to do his job and get 'er done and be left alone. They all have personalities of their own and perhaps Mine That Bird is the same…let me do my job and get back to the stable.
great race, great win and Calvin rocks!
Wow - what a race. (Also thought the trainer a bit of a jerk…).
Trying to figure out in the winner’s circle who the owners were. The other guy in a black cowboy hat?
Anyway, found this:
www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1548363
Funny, the other day my brother called me and asked me about long shots - he wanted to place a bet. I said - what about Join in the Music? Houston connections and all.
He called me this morning and said he had chosen Mine that Bird and our brother-in-law - attending his first Derby - was supposed to bet for my brother to win.
Still have not heard if BIL believed my brother enough to bet.
I hope Mine That Bird did not spend himself in the race - hope he has what it takes for the next two - they did mention Preakness, didn’t they?
I think the trainer was getting a little tired of the trailer trip to the derby being what they focused on. He interviewed better in the winners circle and I thought it was great that he acknowledged the Canadian trainer.
What a great race! That was fun!
WOW. I am just thrilled. What a great race, what a great ride by Calvin, and what an incredible stretch run by that cool little horse.
Walking back to the winner’s circle, with Calvin hooting and hollering and waving his arms, ( I loved it!!) past all those screaming people, MTB just strutted along, ears forward, with a great expression on his face.
I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
Unless he was my horse. 
I had been scanning pedigreequery before the race for a number of the entries in the Derby and for some of the winners of the other races today and came across Smart Strike, MTB’s damsire, a number of times.
What’s his story?
Very, very cool. Apparently, the current owners paid 400K for the horse- and it is still amazing that he won. However, he looks a good bit like his Daddy- such a nifty horse, especially in his hind end. That couldn’t hurt!
I just love Calvin Bo-Rail- what a terrific guy- what a feel good story, from last year, until now…hopefully it just keeps going for him. What a nice, nice, man… :yes:
I’m not going to criticize the trainer for anything he said after pulling off such an upset. The horse ran great, the jockey gave him a great ride and overall it was a great race.
The TV coverage placed so much emphasis on how this horse got to Churchill Downs that my husband thought they actually put him in the back of a Ford pick up truck to ship him there! I guess the trainer was indeed a little tired of such ill placed focus.
Congrats to everyone on Mine the Bird’s team.
[QUOTE=dcm;4065093]
Great race! Yeah for Calvin!
Who else had a “who’s that horse” moment when Mine That Bird broke through? In those few quick seconds I do not remember the announcers even mentioning who he was. It was like it took them by surprise, too.[/QUOTE]
I did. As he was breaking away, I was yelling “who is that?? whose winning??” at my SO - neither of us could figure it out until he crossed the wire.
Fantastic race. I love Borel, he gets so excited and just makes me smile. Watching him win yesterday on the filly was fantastic but today was even better. Not a bad weekend for him at all!!
How tall is Mine That Bird? He doesn’t look particularly big, esp. w/ all those very rangey-gangly looking horses I saw in the paddock before the race. Of course no sign of that information that I can find…
Great race! The channel I was watching was talking about the track and so I was a little worried, but that was fun watching!
Big congrats to Lori T’s cousin Cal!!! It’s all the good karma coming back to him for his time spent working with Teddy and the OTTBs this past year down in Florida 
Hope he goes all the way!
I’m not sure how tall he is, but he was twice mentioned as “small” – once by Calvin, when asked how he fit into the hole, he just said, “I knew he could do it, he’s small!”
Calvin was in his office today!
I do recall him giving credit to Mine That Bird when he was riding alongside the outrider over to the winner’s circle along.
He’s so genuine, how could anyone not be excited for him, even if we were all blindsided. I really like Birdstone (Mine That Bird’s sire), and I sure as heck didn’t see that coming.
Yeah, Woolley was a little frosty, but there comes a point for some folks when you’re just sick of stupid questions and cameras in your face.
[QUOTE=Beverley;4065135]
For those who expressed concern that no one was ‘fussing’ over the horse- you might consider the possibility that some horses just don’t like being fussed over- I have owned a couple such. Even if that’s not the case, really, I don’t see the big deal and am surprised it was mentioned.[/QUOTE]
haha, I was thinking the same thing. I had one TB mare who would have left the winners circle by any means necessary if people she barely knew started hugging her. Especially excited, jumpy, screaming people.
ETA, watching the Youtube video Mine that Bird is about 6 lengths out in front before the announcer figured out he was there. Great race, great riding.
For someone who was asking how tall he was- I would say a big 15.1/ small 15.2.
