News

Birdstone Son Lands Major Upset In Kentucky Derby

3rd May 2009

Racing And Sports - Nathan Exelby - Sunday, 3 May 2009

Friesan Fire failed to fire as Mine That Bird scored a dominant win at odds paying upwards of $100 on Australian totes in this morning's G1 Kentucky Derby.

Mine That Bird is trained by Bennie Woolley and was ridden by Calvin Borel, who won on Darley shuttler Street Sense two years ago.

It completed a big weekend for Borel, who also strolled home in the G1 Kentucky Oaks aboard Rachel Alexandra the previous evening.

Mine That Bird is by Birdstone – the horse that spoiled the Smarty Jones party when beating the public idol in the 2004 G1 Belmont Stakes and thus denying Smarty the Triple Crown.

Birdstone in turn is by Grindstone, winner of the 1996 Kentucky Derby and Grindstone is a son of Unbridled, winner of the Run for the Roses in 1990.

Mine That Bird is from the Smart Strike mare Mining My Own and cost just $9500 at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale.

Smart Strike's affinity with the Triple Crown is highlighted by his son Curlin, winner of the 2007 Preakness Stakes.

Mine That Bird was rated the Champion 2YO Colt in Canada last season, but was unwanted in betting today. He made a lie of his market price though, securing a rails run before dominating his rivals in the final furlong.

Cheap horses had quite a result in the Derby, as third placed Musket Man (Yonaguska-Fortuesque, by Fortunate Prospect) cost $15,000 at the Fasig-Tipton September Yearling Sale in 2007 and was then bought back for $35,000 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2YO's in training sale.

Second placed Pioneerof The Nile, a son of the 2003 Belmont winner Empire Maker from the Lord At War mare Star Of Goshen, was a $290,000 purchase out of the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Australian hope Friesan Fire, the son of Group 1 winner Bollinger and grandson of Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay, was sent out favourite in the race, but was in trouble a long way from home.

The son of A.P. Indy settled handy in the first half dozen, but was under pressure from the 'half mile' and dropped back through the field to finish among the tailenders.