“Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will have a new jockey when he makes his next start on Aug. 1 in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park.  Mark Allen, who owns Mine That Bird with Leonard Blach, said Wednesday that he and trainer Chip Woolley were not yet prepared to name a replacement for Calvin Borel but that they wanted a firm commitment through the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. That span of several months … Read More »

The only way that Mine That Bird loses is if he has been overworked in the past 6 weeks.

This could only happen in horse racing. We could have a triple crown jockey. Sorry, Calvin Borel, you should have given Mine That Bird the mount in the Preakness. Even though Bird should easily win the Belmont, his record is blemished at the hands of his own favorite jockey.

No filly has won the Preakness since 1924. Rachel Alexandra will not be able to run away from this field. She will be challenged early and not have the breezy run she had in the Oaks. The fast past up front will again play right into the Derby winner’s hands, setting up another come from behind win. Mike Smith for Calvin Borel is an upgrade. The following is my predicted order of finish: 

First           Mine … Read More »