I've been following the Sport of Kings for 38 years now, and it never ceases to write new chapters, new sagas, new stories to follow. The victory by Mine That Bird at today's Kentucky Derby was stunning, to say the least. A horse that was purchased for less than $10,000, and ran at Sunland Downs in New Mexico (Sunland Downs in New Mexico!) comes from out of nowhere to win the world's most prestigious race!
And how can you help but love Calvin Borel? He just has to be one of the most endearing people on the face of the earth! I had tears in my eyes when he said how much he wished his parents could be here to see his success. (It does no good to say, "Well, wherever they are, I know they can see you," because he can't SEE them SEEING him, the way he could if they were alive. That's something that people who have never suffered a loss would never comprehend.)
Looking at this horse's pedigree, it really shouldn't have been THAT surprising that he was capable of winning the Derby. His sire, Birdstone, was the one who stymied Smarty Jones' bid for the Triple Crown a few years ago. His grandsire, Grindstone, won the Derby (as I recall, he foiled Bob Baffert's first attempt to win the Derby). His great-grandsire, Unbridled, won the Derby. His great-grandsire on his dam's side, Smart Strike, is only one of the top sires around, and sired the incomparable Curlin. So his pedigree is pretty amazing.
It will be interesting to see if they take this horse to the Preakness. Why not? Even if they have to pay a small fortune to supplement him, I say go for it! This could potentially be one of the biggest Cinderella stories horse racing has ever seen. If it fizzles out, the ride was fun while it lasted. Go for the brass ring, guys! And take the rest of us on the ride with you - it will be fun seeing what happens!
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