Calvin “Bo-rail” did it again.
Mine That Bird won the 135th Kentucky Derby, but not on the merit that he was the best horse in the field, rather, the better horses didn’t show up.
‘That Bird’ would have never won that Derby had injuries not occurred to nearly every contender.
That, and the fact his rider owns the rail at Churchill Downs.
Visually speaking, Mine That Bird’s win was indeed impressive.
His winning time of 2:02.66, however, was not.
And his victory of margin is telling of how weak the field indeed was.
There’s absolutely no reason not to believe that the colts that got injured (see below) along the Derby trail couldn’t have ran a better race.
Even Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday of May by a romping 20-lengths, seemingly could have out run Mine That Bird.
But Borel’s winning-ride was reminiscent to that of Street Sense’s two year’s ago.
It’s almost as if the rail opens up like the Red Sea when Borel rides.
When are the other jocks going to learn to rail-block Borel?
Hopefully at Pimlico they will. But it shouldn’t matter anyway.
Even though another weak field is likely to be drawn for the Preakness, Mine That Bird will not win the second leg of the Triple Crown.
But in the mean time, let’s look at why Mine That Bird won the Roses.
First, the only major contender who did not get hurt in the Derby or on the way to Louisville was Pioneerof the Nile.
While the Bob Baffert-trainee did indeed come in second place, he once again failed to run straight in the lane, one of the major reasons why I refused to support him on Derby day. And he lost by 6 ¾-lengths to a horse sent off at boxcar odds.
Second, the list of contenders who got injured made a better “field” than the actual horses who made the field.
I Want Revenge: Scratched on Derby day.
Quality Road: Taken out of consideration on Derby week.
Midshipman: Injured after winning Breeders Cup Juvenile.
Friesan Fire: Derby favorite got jumped on out the gate, bleed throughout race.
Dunkirk: Came out of the Derby with a quarter injury.
Old Fashioned … Win Willy … and so on.
Don’t be surprised to see a horse other than Mine That Bird go off as the favorite for the Preakness. Mine That Bird and Borel won’t do it again.
-Matthew Kimel, sports editor
