Kentucky Derby 135

Speechless is the word I would use when the race ended. And shocked and even confused. For a full five seconds we had NO IDEA who this dark brown horse with the pink #8 silk carrying a muddy jockey, his arms outstretched to the sky in a victory pose even WAS. Crazy. Unexpected. And so very, very entertaining. This is why we watch, baby!

And we weren't the only ones. Even the great Tom Durkin, who has called more than 68,000 horse races over two decades and is the the "voice" of the Derby, stumbled when trying to name the horse that was quickly distancing himself from the earlier leaders as they raced down the stretch. As he called the race, he didn't even notice this dark horse coming up fast on the rail after the last turn and seemed to need to look at his racing sheet for a name check before he could say, "Mine That Bird." What a memory!

After the race, the reporters were unprepared and unable to ask any meaningful questions to the trainer Chip Woolley, as they were as clueless to the newest Derby winners trek to get to the coveted Winner's Circle.

Everyone was just stunned.

And that's what made it so great.

So who is Mine That Bird?

As I have read tonight, he's got quite a story of his own.

What other Derby contender was purchased for a mere $9,500 at a yearling sale back in October 2007?

What other horse was packed into a van in New Mexico and driven cross country by its trainer on a 21 hour, 2 day trek to get to Churchill Downs?

What other horse was entered after a surprise call from Churchill Downs to point out that they had enough graded stakes earnings to qualify in a 20-horse field and ask if they were coming?

What other horse was entered after the two owners, one being 74 years old, knew this would be there ONLY chance ever to have a horse make it to Churchill Downs?

What other horse was scoffed at for even entering and then ignored during their workouts at Churchill Downs?

What other horse was ridden by a crazed jockey who hails from Louisville and is known to love riding the rail?

What other horse could come from a dismal last place position and then soar to victory in front of over a hundred thousand screaming fans?

What other horse could return $103.20 for a $2 win wager with place and show prices of $54.00 and $25.80, respectively. The exacta was worth $2,074.80? Or make handicappers blink in disbelief with a payoff of $41,500.60. The superfecta returned a staggering $557,006.40?

A 50-1 longshot who upset the greatest horses of its time and pulled out a remarkable victory and made it that look even easy at the end.

From USATODAY.com

Mine That Bird, who did not initially have the Kentucky Derby on his schedule after going winless since last Oct. 5, pulled the second-biggest upset in the 135-year history of the Run for the Roses when he prevailed by 6 3/4 shocking lengths on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

"Dream a little bit," said choked-up co-owner Leonard Black, "and your dreams will come true."

This dream, though, seemed far-fetched even to those most familiar with a gelding who began his career as a $9,500 purchase in October, 2007.

"I didn't have any real feeling I could win the Derby. We wanted to be competitive," said New Mexico-based trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. "I knew he would be more competitive than anybody would give us credit for."

Jockey Calvin Borel, a journeyman before he gained his first Derby triumph aboard Street Sense two years ago, also admitted to having limited faith in a mount he picked up after other jockeys secured top contenders.

"Really and truly, you've got me surprised," said Borel after a masterful last-to-first ride on a sloppy track that allowed him to celebrate well before he crossed the finish line far ahead of runner-up Pioneerof the Nile. "But the horse is in the Derby for a reason."

A reason he proved on his own today on the track. For all the world to see. A reason to celebrate if you ask me or any other racing fan that dared wager their cash and put #8 as down a WINNER before the race unfolded.

It could be that history will regard Mine That Bird as a one-day wonder and one of the flukiest of Derby champions. But now matter how the record books are wriiten he is a Champion. Forever.