Derby Day Report
Mine That Bird pulled off the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history with a 50-1 triumph at Churchill Downs.
Calvin Borel, who won on Street Sense in 2007, drove the outsider to victory by six-andthree-quarter lengths ahead of Pioneer of the Nile.
It was the biggest winning margin since Assault won in 1946, and the longest-odds winner since Donerail in 1913.
Borel was in a familiar place, along the rail and urging Mine That Bird to fly through the mud. Trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. was someplace he never imagined — the Kentucky
Derby, with his horse in the lead.
Together they pulled off one of the greatest upsets in 135 years of America’s most famous horse race.
“It was a Street Sense move,” Borel said Saturday, referring to the same rail-hugging ride he gave that colt to win the Derby two years ago. “They can only go so fast, so far. When I hollered at him, he just went on.”
Sent off at 50-1 odds, Mine That Bird pulled away in the stretch to score a 6 3/4-length victory at Churchill Downs, the second-biggest upset in Derby history. His margin was the largest since Assault won by eight lengths in 1946.
The gelding ran 1 1/4 miles on a sloppy dirt track in 2:02.66 and paid $103.20 to win — second-largest payout in Derby history behind Donerail ($184.90) in 1913.
Pioneerof the Nile finished second for freshly minted Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time Derby winner. Musket Man was another nose back in third, followed by Papa Clem. Friesan Fire, the 7-2 wagering favorite of 153,563 fans, was 18th in the 19-horse field.
Earlier, I Want Revenge became the first morning-line favorite to be scratched on Derby Day after inflammation was detected in the colt’s left front ankle. The injury wasn’t believed to be career-threatening but worrisome enough to prompt trainer Jeff Mullins and owner David Lanzman to withdraw.
Mine That Bird got squeezed coming out of the starting gate, but Borel took a firm hold and wrestled the horse to the rail while they were in last place.
DERBY DAY PHOTOS
2009 Kentucky Derby Results & Purse: $2,177,200
1st - Mine That Bird
2nd - Pioneerof the Nile
3rd - Musket Man
4th - Papa Clem
2009 Kentucky Derby Payouts:
# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
8 Mine That Bird Borel C H 126 103.20 54.00 25.80
16 Pioneerof the Nile Gomez G K 126 8.40 6.40
2 Musket Man Coa E M 126 12.00
Complete Kentucky Derby Results:
1st - Mine That Bird
2nd - Pioneerof the Nile
3rd - Musket Man
4th - Papa Clem
5th - Chocolate Candy
6th - Summer Bird
7th - Join in the Dance
8th - Regal Ransom
9th - West Side Bernie
10th - General Quarters
11th - Dunkirk
12th - Hold Me Back
13th - Advice
14th - Desert Party
15th - Mr. Hot Stuff
16th - Atomic Rain
17th - Nowhere to Hide
18th - Friesan Fire
19th - Flying Private
Biggest Derby payoffs for winners since 1911.
Horse…………Year….Payoff
Donerail ……..1913….$184.90
Mine That Bird ..2009….$103.20
Giacomo……….2005….$102.60
Gallahadian……1940….$72.40
Charismatic……1999….$64.60
First Report - Oaks Day
Welcome to Louisville, Kentucky. Home of the Louisville Cardinals, the Sweet Sixteen men’s and womens college championship basketball teams, and more importantly this time of year, the world most famous horse race The Kentucky Derby.
The city of Louisville comes to life this time of year to celebrate the “Derby Festival”. Starting in April fans and celebrities alike trickle in from around the globe to play their part in this historic event. Activities include a steamboat race on the Ohio river, balloon races, a world class Texas hold’em tournament and a downtown Derby Festival parade just to name a few. There’s something for everyone in the smorgasbord of activities
divided over a three week period leading up to the race.
The fun takes on a new level on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby better known as Oaks Day.
Churchill Downs also celebrated giving to others by promoting the Horses for Hope, Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Susan G. Komen founder, Nancy G. Brinker, honored as the very first “First Lady of the Oaks.” Could we be more proud of our founder and of Churchill Downs?
Selected survivors (right) paraded around the racetrack en route to the turf course, in front of the grandstand, with participants holding hands to create a winners circle of life for the eventual winner of the race to come into.
The $500,000 Kentucky Oaks is the filly version of the the Derby contested at 1 1/8 mile on the main track.
This year’s running of the Oaks was nothing short of spectacular as the superstar filly Rachel Alexander crushed her competition by an astonishing 20 and 1/4 lengths in one of the most impressive performances in recent racing history.
Rachel Alexandra cruised past Gabby’s Golden Gal on the far turn then poured it on as she entered the stretch, extending the lead as 100,000 spectators roared with every stride. As she crossed the finish Jockey Calvin Borel patted her on the neck a few times and blew a kiss to the crowd.
“I’ve never been on a horse that good, to tell you the truth,” said Borel, who won the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense. “As fast as you want to go, you can go,” Borel said. “If I’d have reached and grabbed her by the 16th pole, she’d have went a lot farther and broke the track record,” Borel said.
When Dolphus C. Morrison the owner of the star filly was asked whether he should have run her against the boys in tomorrows Kentucky Derby he exclaimed, “The Kentucky Derby is for the boys; the Kentucky Oaks is for the girls.”
As the last race for the day was ending the parties were starting. From the exclusive Barnstable Brown Gala, hosted by the doublemint twins from the 1970s to the Derby Spectacular, hosted by Kim Kardashian A listed celebrities came out in droves.
From legendary football players like Warren Moon to Hollywood stars like Mekhi Phifer and Joe Piscipo everyone was on deck. Kim Kardashian worked her magic on the runway as the fans went wild.
Warren Moon with his wife Mandy, left, Joe Piscopo comedian actor, center and Mekhi Phifer from the ER TV show, right
It’s no wonder people start booking hotels a year in advance. Louisvile, Kentucky, There’s no better place to be as the Kentucky Derby approaches!
PHOTOS BY: Rick Buckley