is the grass any bluer...

is the grass any bluer...
...in Cincinnati!

Friday, May 15, 2009

He's all Mine, That Bird

by Kim Thomas

MINE THAT BIRD
is indeed a wonderful horse, having stunned the world when he came from waaay behind to move along the rail, pierce a wafer-thin layer of light to weave his way through mud and horse to win the Grade I Kentucky Derby just a few short weeks ago. (No, I am not going to say "presented by Yum Brands. Not. Gonna. Do it. It's the Kentucky Derby, nothing more, nothing less.)

The best phenomenon to come out of Roswell, New Mexico in more than 50 years, MINE THAT BIRD is owned by good guys in everyone's eyes, Mark Allen and veterinarian Dr. Leonard Blach. He's trained by the warm and wonderful Chip Woolley, who is said to be a fabulous person, anytime of the day, any day of the year.

On Derby day, my friend and cohort, Amy Owens had told me about her close connections to MINE THAT BIRD, and of course, over the course of many races and a few Mint Juleps, I figured that out of 20 horses, that little feller probably didn't have a snowball's chance in New Mexico to win the race...but of course, he did. I will never forget the look on Amy's face when she heard the Churchill Downs track announcer reveal that MINE THAT BIRD was making his move...then he was ahead...then we saw him go by, covered in mud, victorious. Amy was speechless, happily clutching a fistful of winning tickets in one hand and shortly thereafter, a Mint Julep in the other (btw, by that time of the day on Derby day, the mint is just ewwwgly). Me? I was looking for the ladder I was supposed to take to my friend, Z, the legendary equine photographer who was kind enough to give me a simple task to do after the greatest horse race in the world. Forgive us our press passes...

What a great moment in sports. What a wonderful feat to accomplish for Thoroughbred racing. What a great horse, winning the Derby that way, coming from the back of the pack, rider's boot literally on the rail as he guided him into first place.

However, that was with Calvin Borel aboard. This time around, for the Preakness, Borel has decide
d to ride the uber-girl of all girlie-girls, RACHEL ALEXANDRA. That speaks volumes, not against the colt, but it is a testament to the ability of the filly who won the Kentucky Oaks by more than 20 frickin' lengths. That, my Lambchops, is a huge amount of mud and flesh to slosh through and win (it was muddy on Friday, too, go figure). If Borel thinks that RACHEL ALEXANDRA is a better horse, who am I to argue?

I would love to see MINE THAT BIRD win tomorrow, but it will surprise me if he does.

(Photo of MINE THAT BIRD courtesy of Photos by Z)

Pray for peace in the Preakness, y'all,
Kimmy


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