Why is Mine That Bird getting no respect ?

Good question. Most of the writer's give Calvin Borel 100% of the credit for MTB winning even though the horse ran his final quarter in 23 and change. They ignore the fact that if the horse wasn't capable of doing that, Borel wouldn't have won.

Case in point is last year Borel rode Denis of Cork in the Derby. He took the same rail trip he always takes, started out in last place and finished third because Denis of Cork couldn't close fast enough to win. The writer's gave the horse credit for his valiant finish and touted him as a serious contender for the Preakness and Belmont. They barely even mentioned Borel's ride although it was striking similar to his ride aboard MTB.

Now one year later they dismiss MTB as a fluke and say he would have lost badly if not for Borel's amazing ride. Because the writers so often act this way, I've come to the conclusion that they are either:

A) trying to keep people from betting on the horse they're betting so they can cash in big OR

B) getting compensated to hype certain horses OR

C) just idiots

Well, the horse hadn't even raced in a graded stakes this year until the Derby. He failed in two ungraded stakes at little Sunland Park in New Mexico against horses who weren't even on the Triple Crown trail. That's why the gelding got no respect on Derby day and why people say his win was a fluke. Furthermore, the rail was fast on derby day while the rest of the track was sloppy, so the Derby was a race between Mine that Bird on a fast track versus everyone else on a sloppy track. The final time was slow but that can be because of the sloppy track. So there's plenty of reasons to say that the gelding's win was a fluke. But there's no denying that his win was visually impressive. You can absolutely make a case for the gelding winning the Preakness, so if you want to play him, go for it.

I wonder the same thing myself. I don't buy into the theory that there was some incredibly fast golden lane on the rail, especially because Bird had to go around a horse. Why wasn't that horse benefiting from the golden lane?

I figure the writer's acting like the Preakness is a one horse race is better for me. There's a gold mine of decent horses in this race that are getting ignored because of the filly. Big Drama, for example, is completely under the radar. I've only seen one writer give him anything more than a passing mention.

I think it's because the experts don't like to be wrong. Also maybe they lost a lot of money or don't like looking foolish with their betting theories. I think super rich people don't like having their horses shown up, actually embarrassed. Pioneer of the Nile cost $3 1/2 million and ate mud too. I don't think elite trainers who enter 3 horses like not finishing in the money to a horse like Bird. These are the folks the writers hang out with. The owners, trainers, etc. of the Kentucky Derby establishment are the sources for the writers.

Basically they don't give him any respect because he doesn't fit the mold they are looking for. Certainly he is not one of "them." That's hard for them to accept. He is a fast horse. His time in the last 1/4 mile was about 23 & 3/5 sec.on a sloppy track. This was second only to Secretariat's 23.0 on a dry track. It was a great run. I do hope his trainers don't overwork him as one of the previous posters suggested. I think it will be quite a race, greatly anticipated, which is nice to see, good for the industry and thanks to Mine That Bird.

I threw him out before the Derby because he was tiny, common looking, and his recent form was garbage compared to the competition. I was thrilled to see him do what he did and I love the whole story surrounding him and his cowboy entourage(i.e. the trainer's remark after having a police escort for the last leg of the drive to Pimlico that it was the first time he'd ever had the cops leading him instead of chasing him). It's living proof that anything can happen in this game and that sometimes you just gotta take a shot. That said, I can understand why he's going to have to do it again to prove himself. Even though he was breathtaking in his victory and seemed to be in a class all his own, I don't think there's any doubt that the track conditions played a huge part in his dominating performance. His rider and trainer both acknowledged that his diminutive size gave him a big advantage as he didn't sink as deep into the sloppy surface as the bigger horses did, and the other super stars were grinding eyeball to eyeball in that soup for the whole trip, wearing each other down while he just loped along at a 2" clip waiting for Borel to push the button. If you break down the fractions it's obvious that he made one very impressive 3 furlong move past horses that were stopping big time. I'd love to see him do it again at Pimlico, but on a dry track and without that last 1/16th of a mile, those other colts probably aren't going to be coming back to him like they did at Churchill. And of course, the big filly may just leave all of them in her dust - although as incredible as she is, she still has to prove that she can carry her speed and power with a pack of big, tough colts breathing down her neck. I'm almost disappointed that she's in there - I'm rooting for both of them and one of them has to lose.

Add: Another concern is that the Big Bird camp will make a fatal mistake common to those inexperienced with the rigors of chasing after the triple crown and handling a classic winner. That is - they get so caught up in the hype of the moment and the possibilities of what could be that they begin to doubt themselves and their horse, change their training methods and end up screwing things up. Shortly after the Derby (as soon as he publicly acknowledged that they would probably go for the Preakness), Woolley stated that he wouldn't work the little horse in the 13 days between races. I was so glad to hear that after the colt had just run the race of his life in the slop going 1/16th further than the Preakness distance. I mean, if the horse doesn't have enough air in him by now... But I said to myself "wait and see". Sure enough, the colt ended up having only 1 day off after the Derby, was worked a strong 1/2 just a week after the race, hauled 10 hours yesterday(which can be the equivalent of running a race), galloped 1 1/2 miles at Pimlico this morning and according to Woolley, will gallop 2 miles a day from now to the race. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes out Saturday morning too. Where he came from you can bet that little horse didn't go to the racetrack more than 4 - 5 days a week coming into the Derby and now he's getting drilled like he is Seattle Slew. I just hope and pray that he isn't empty by Saturday afternoon, or worse....

The horse is lacking almost everything that a serious player looks for in a Triple Crown prospect. Including:

1) Lack of preps with triple crown prospects

2) Lack of a successful thoroughbred trainer (and vet)

3) No visible signs of muscular maturity

4) No signs of racing development as a three year old (prior to Derby)

5) High dosage, as well as doubts about Birdstone's success as stud

7) Average workout patterns

The huge improvement in this colts performance in the Derby (albeit under a masterful ride by Borel), will almost certainly result in a decrease in performance with two weeks rest (something players call a bounce).

It's probably because none of the so-called "experts" had

Mine That Bird winning, or even in the money. Plus, more than

likely, they lost a wad of cash betting on their can't miss pick,

and they would now look like more of an idiot switching to a 50/1

KD winner.

You are right. Mine That Bird ran an impressive Derby. It's

pretty awesome to watch the power move that he put on the

rest of the field. He definitely peaked at the right time.

Can he do it again? I don't know.

I won't have him to win the Preakness, but what do I

know? I'm probably going to give my KD pick one more chance

to redeem himself, and make me look smart. But, I will definitely

have Mine That Bird in on my exacta and trifecta, just in case

he pulls another fast one.

Good luck.

I used to have a barrel pony she was definitely not a flashy big horse but she was sure footed and wicked fast(she was shaggy as a shetland pony in the winter) but wow was she fun to run one day the mayors son came riding up behind me on a gravel road on a huge thick necked muscle bound sorrel that he just got made some cracks about my horse it was march so she was still shaggy looking so i said fine lets go that telephone pole to that one way down there she smoked his horse no prob. i'm just saying it isn't always big and flashy that can get the job done

They put birds in mines to tell when the air ran out.

Mine that Bird will probably run with the filly, they will be distracted and won't do well...unless it rains = prediction based on air in the mine.

And now Borel is even abandoning him for the Preakness!