Thank You Mine That Bird

[blackthroatedwind]

If it wasn't for Mine That Bird's inscutable effort today, we would have seen three relative mediocrities hit the wire together in one of the slowest KY Derbies in modern history. Now, instead of endlessly hearing about how wonderful a horse Pioneer of the Nile is, and one that only synthetic haters failed to see the obvious greatness of, we can all scratch our heads as to how this otherwise " slow " horse could destroy today's field.

I guess two things happened, the good horses all scratched for various reasons in the weeks leading up to the race and one horse loved the off-going....and the rest just aren't that good or completely didn't show up.

Today's Derby, which had a great deal of promise a month ago, ended up being a shell of its possible self, and one run on a sloppy surface that ultimately answered few questions. But at least it didn't produce a slew of undeserved accolades. For that I am thankful.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

If it wasn't for Mine That Bird's inscutable effort today, we would have seen three relative mediocrities hit the wire together in one of the slowest KY Derbies in modern history. Now, instead of endlessly hearing about how wonderful a horse Pioneer of the Nile is, and one that only synthetic haters failed to see the obvious greatness of, we can all scratch our heads as to how this otherwise " slow " horse could destroy today's field.

I guess two things happened, the good horses all scratched for various reasons in the weeks leading up to the race and one horse loved the off-going....and the rest just aren't that good or completely didn't show up.

Today's Derby, which had a great deal of promise a month ago, ended up being a shell of its possible self, and one run on a sloppy surface that ultimately answered few questions. But at least it didn't produce a slew of undeserved accolades. For that I am thankful.

Why? You're above caring about the Kentucky Derby. Remember?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by justindew

Why? You're above caring about the Kentucky Derby. Remember?

My concern about the KY Derby is solely tied to your blog.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

My concern about the KY Derby is solely tied to your blog.

I sent DrugS my last black and white photo w/autograph. So if this is your way of asking for one, you'll have to wait until after the Preakness.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

But at least it didn't produce a slew of undeserved accolades. For that I am thankful.

The ride by Borel was totally epic anyway.

He had him back so far behind the next to last horse early on that even the mud kicked up probably couldn't reach him.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

The ride by Borel was totally epic anyway.

He had him back so far behind the next to last horse early on that even the mud kicked up probably couldn't reach him.

Watching Calvin's interview again and thinking about what he meant reveals a few possible reasons for his gelding's success.

1) The track took the heart out of almost all of them over 10F's except his horse whom he saved til the last quarter as he was so far back after the initial half he was out of the picture but his horse hadn't started the race yet. Classic tortise and hare stuff....

2) The time, though slow, is irrelevant as this Derby was won by racing strategy not speed but stamina over a last 1/4 while MTB must have run ridiculous time for the 1/4, 1/2 and 6f's splits showing how occasionally over rated ES is on tiring tracks and poly quick sand.

3) "Fatigue makes cowards of us all" doesn't just apply to football player's

4) Calvin was right on the money when he said his was the only one running at he end......an obvious strategy the "slow minded" southern connections used to the detriment of faster smarter more expensive colts in the race.

"Intelligence is taking the same information available to everyone else and doing something different with it than most to achieve an outcome nobody else could attain"......

[SOREHOOF]

Birdstone is 23% with mud starters. My sister was looking for a longshot, when she mentioned MTB I told her he should be a million to one. I should have kept my mouth shut.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by docicu3

Watching Calvin's interview again and thinking about what he meant reveals a few possible reasons for his gelding's success.

1) The track took the heart out of almost all of them over 10F's except his horse whom he saved til the last quarter as he was so far back after the initial half he was out of the picture but his horse hadn't started the race yet. Classic tortise and hare stuff....

2) The time, though slow, is irrelevant as this Derby was won by racing strategy not speed but stamina over a last 1/4 while MTB must have run ridiculous time for the 1/4, 1/2 and 6f's splits showing how occasionally over rated ES is on tiring tracks and poly quick sand.

3) "Fatigue makes cowards of us all" doesn't just apply to football player's

4) Calvin was right on the money when he said his was the only one running at he end......an obvious strategy the "slow minded" southern connections used to the detriment of faster smarter more expensive colts in the race.

"Intelligence is taking the same information available to everyone else and doing something different with it than most to achieve an outcome nobody else could attain"......

Photo of Mine That Bird on the turn:

http://sports.yahoo.com/rah/gallery;...th_kentuck%3A1

[Bobby Fischer]

race shape, and set up too fast/too forward....

combined with a lone horse running a separate optimal race and winning a gamble on a fortunate rail trip.

and the much-the-best horse running a no-show while supposedly injured

and the 3 other possibly good 10 furlong horses (dunkirk,desert party,chocolate candy) turned out to be mediocre or worse

[herkhorse]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fischer

race shape, and set up too fast/too forward....

combined with a lone horse running a separate optimal race and winning a gamble on a fortunate rail trip.

and the much-the-best horse running a no-show while supposedly injured

and the 3 other possibly good 10 furlong horses (dunkirk,desert party,chocolate candy) turned out to be mediocre or worse

Somebody paid them off?

[Bobby Fischer]

it was a handicappers nightmare and the type of race that some fan hits...

anyone who knew anything about wagering would play against pioneer in most tickets other than the coverage tickets.

I had Calvin's horse and Join in the Dance (the speed) grouped 3rd or 4th in a superfecta each, but that is the highest I could envision him running to.


One of the hardest things about trying to make money at the horses, is that if you want to safely build your bankroll, you can't bet a lot more on the fun races then on any other good valued race. That can be damn near impossible when you handicap a race for so long, and have been so accurate for the last two years, and have such a strong opinion.

[Suffolk Shippers]

Or you can say we were denied a possibly memorable finish by some sh*t horse from New Mexico who rode the bias and the smartest jockey on the track to a win. What's worse a slow race on off going with a fun finish or some horse that no one could identify who won by six or seven lengths?

[ArlJim78]

that win never happens if Borel doesn't take him back and separate from the field. it's gutsy to fall back into what looks like a hopelessly beaten position, but sometimes its the right thing to do. how he manages to find a clear rail path is impressive.

[ninetoone]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

that win never happens if Borel doesn't take him back and separate from the field. it's gutsy to fall back into what looks like a hopelessly beaten position, but sometimes its the right thing to do. how he manages to find a clear rail path is impressive.

Whoa...don't you know that jockeys have little to nothing to do with the outcome of races???

[Hoist Her Flag]

Because Bill Mott called a POTN a turfer last May when he was barely 2 year olds you just didn't want to see him win. What a loser.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Hoist Her Flag

Because Bill Mott called a POTN a turfer last May when he was barely 2 year olds you just didn't want to see him win. What a loser.

How does this work with your prior post?

Originally Posted by Hoist Her Flag

This is the worst derby ever

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by ninetoone

Whoa...don't you know that jockeys have little to nothing to do with the outcome of races???

well I'd say the majority of the time, they have little to do with it, that's its mainly the horse. but a certain percentage of the time they can make a huge difference.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers

Or you can say we were denied a possibly memorable finish by some sh*t horse from New Mexico who rode the bias and the smartest jockey on the track to a win. What's worse a slow race on off going with a fun finish or some horse that no one could identify who won by six or seven lengths?

What bias....one that helped overmatched horses?

[King Glorious]

Anyone that mentions a bias as the reason this horse won should never be allowed to watch a race again. Any bias there may have been only added to his margin of victory. He would have won that race had he gone around the grandstand. He was much the best today.

[basement bob]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Anyone that mentions a bias as the reason this horse won should never be allowed to watch a race again. Any bias there may have been only added to his margin of victory. He would have won that race had he gone around the grandstand. He was much the best today.

i could not agree more. well said.