If you haven't been to the Kentucky Derby,
"You ain't been nowhere and you ain't done nothin'."

The second longest shot ever to win the Kentucky Derby triumphed on Saturday. May 2nd. Mine That Bird paid $103.20 to win at odds of 50.60 -1. (The longest shot ever was Donerail who won in 1913 at odds of 91.45-1.)

(The above photo shows the leaders in the Derby down the backside - Join The Dance (51-1, finished 7th) leads from Regal Ransom (22-1, finished 8th) and Papa Clem (12-1, finished 4th). Mine that Bird was dead last at this point.)

Mine That Bird, a gelding, had run well at Woodbine (in Canada) last year as a two year old, breaking his maiden in a $62,500 Maiden Claimer and winning three stakes in Canada. This two year old success ended with a last place finish in the Breeders Cup Juvenile.

Mine That Bird had run twice as a three year old - once second of seven and most recently fourth of twelve, both in stakes at Sunland Park - hardly the past performances of a potential Derby winner.

Ridden by Calvin Borel, Mine That Bird was dead last of nineteen down the back stretch. At the turn for home he started to move up. Borel kept him to the inside, came up the rail and got through a small hole which caused the horse to switch leads to the outside and then back inside within three strides. It was tight! He took over the lead and the rest is history - a win by 6 3/4 lengths.

(Mine That Bird is picked up by the Outrider as Donna Brothers, the TV interviewer, prepares to talk with jockey Calvin Borel.)

One theory is that Mine That Bird had run and trained at altitude at Sunland Park, in New Mexico, and therefore had more red blood corpuscles which carry oxygen, giving him more endurance than other horses who had trained at or near sea level.

On to the Preakness - stay tuned.