Mine That Bird, upset winner of the 2009 Derby, retired

Mine That Bird, who was campaigned by Blach's Buena Suerta Equine and Mark

Allen's Double Eagle Ranch, signs off with an 18-5-2-2 record and $2,228,637 in

earnings.

Bred by Lamantia, Blackburn and Needham/Betz Thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Mine

That Bird was a $9,500 bargain yearling purchase by trainer David Cotey's

Dominion Bloodstock at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October. Racing for Cotey's

partnership, he finished fifth in a Woodbine maiden special weight in July 2008.

Mine That Bird was dropped in for a $62,500 tag next out and promptly scored by

1 3/4 lengths.

Cotey then gave him a chance in stakes company, and he sprang a mild upset at

10-1 in the Silver Deputy S. That was the beginning of a three-race winning

streak for Mine That Bird. His victorious rallies in the Swynford S. and Grey S.

(Can-G3) eventually netted him a Sovereign Award as Canada's champion

two-year-old male.

In the meantime, Mine That Bird was purchased privately by Double Eagle Ranch

and transferred to Richard Mandella. He made only one start for the Hall of

Famer, checking in last of 12 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Mine That Bird

reappeared with Woolley at Sunland Park that winter, and in his debut for his

new trainer, he was a terrifically game runner-up in the 2009 Borderland Derby,

beaten a neck by Scorewithcater (Even the Score). Mine That Bird was unable to

reproduce that effort in his subsequent start, a retreating fourth in the

Sunland Derby.

Nevertheless, the diminutive gelding had sufficient graded earnings to get

into the Kentucky Derby field. His cross-country trek in a trailer hitched to

his trainer's pick-up truck would soon become the stuff of Derby lore. So would

the scenes of Woolley hobbling on crutches, as a result of breaking his leg in a

motorcycle accident.

Mine That Bird was ignored in the Derby wagering, while his leading rivals

Friesan Fire (A.P. Indy), Dunkirk and Pioneerof the Nile attracted plenty of

support. Yet the unheralded New Mexico shipper was about to surprise them all.

Given an inspired ride by Calvin Borel, Mine That Bird was unhurried in last in

the 19-horse field, made eye-catching headway along the rail turning for home,

shot past the leaders, and stormed 6 3/4 lengths clear on the sloppy, sealed

track.

Besides becoming the second longest-priced winner in Derby history, behind

the 91-1 Donerail in 1913, Mine That Bird also ranked as the first Canadian

champion juvenile to wear the roses since Sunny's Halo in 1983.

Mine That Bird never won another race, but he did perform admirably in the

final two legs of the Triple Crown. A closing second to Horse of the Year Rachel

Alexandra in the Preakness S. (G1), he came in third to divisional champion

Summer Bird in the Belmont S. (G1). The rigors of the Triple Crown may have left

their mark on the little gelding, who went on to finish third in the West

Virginia Derby (G2), sixth in the Goodwood S. (G1) and ninth in the Breeders'

Cup Classic (G1) in his remaining outings of 2009.

Mine That Bird is the first foal from the unraced Smart Strike mare Mining My

Own, who has since produced a winning sophomore named Brother Bird (Yonaguska),

an unnamed yearling colt by Even the Score and a weanling filly by Tapit. Mining

My Own, a half-sister to stakes heroine Golden Sunray (Crafty Prospector), is

herself out of Canadian Oaks runner-up Aspenelle (Vice Regent). This is the

family of Ambassador of Luck (What Luck), the champion older mare of 1983.