(4-23-23) ‘Mine That Bird‘ won the 2009 Kentucky Derby, 2nd in the Preakness and 3rd in the Belmont. How impressive was that!

In 2009, Mine That Bird (TB), who was owned by New Mexico owners with deep Quarter Horse roots, shocked the world as the 50-1 winner of the Kentucky Derby. The bay gelding was owned by Mark Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch and Dr. Leonard Blach’s Buena Suerte Equine.

2009 Kentucky Derby

  • Mine That Bird paid 103.20/54/25.80.
  • Pioneerof the Nile paid 8.40/6.40.
  • Musket Man paid 12.00.

Mine That Bird continued to be successful after his Derby win. The son of Birdstone finished second in the Preakness Stakes, where he defeated all of his male rivals, but would finish a length behind filly Rachel Alexandra. Mine That Bird would finish third in the Belmont Stakes.

Kentucky Derby (2009): Mine That Bird shocks the world at 50-1 odds

NBC Sports You Tube Video

According to a 2016 article he is now owned by co-owners Allen and Leonard “Doc” Blach and is located at HV Ranch near Lone Oak, Texas with Rosa Ramirez.

Canadian trainer David Cotey purchased Mine That Bird for just $9,500 from the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. With earnings of $2,228,637 during his career…he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2015.

An article from a year ago (4-26-22) – At Age 16, a New Scene for Kentucky Derby Winner Mine That Bird

The horse that finished 2nd to Mine That Bird was Pioneerof the Nile who sired Triple Crown winner, multiple champion, and 2015 Horse of the Year American Pharoah.

Horse racing lost out with ‘Mine That Bird‘ who was a gelding and after his racing days never had that opportunity. His legacy in racing was complete.

Cloning

If cloning was allowed racing might have had the opportunity to possibly find out what his bloodline might produce. It is still not to late for that to happen…could the future see AI and cloning being allowed? Before you criticize this change in racing think of the many changes that have taken place since the 1st Kentucky Derby, like any other sport there are always changes taking place.

  • July 1, 1939, at Lansdowne Park in Vancouver, Canada, the first electrical starting gate was introduced to horse racing.
  • First photo finish camera was used on Del Mar’s opening day in 1937
  • June 8th, 2022 – Lasix, the much-debated anti-bleeding medication that also works as a diuretic to cause horses to urinate and lose 20 to 30 pounds of fluid, which can increase their ability to run faster, will get a close look over the next three years. The new safety agency will start by prohibiting Lasix use on race day while allowing tracks to apply for an exemption.

The cloning process takes an effort by those who want to have the process done.and it is quite costly…from securing the skin sample to a foal being born. But the final reward can be worth the time to make it work. It can be done with thoroughbreds, but there is no resolution in site that would allow the clone to race or any of his offspring. A clone from a gelding the quality of ‘Mine That Bird‘ could prove to benefit racing in many ways in the future.

Even if the Jockey Club remains set on not approving proven technology…it would still be worth trying to save the bloodlines of a Kentucky Derby winner.

How about letting a clone from a gelding be used for breeding purposes only, the clone would not be able to race but his offspring would be allowed. Racing leaders need to at least give cloning a test run.

What would quarter horse racing be without artificial insemination or allowing cross-breeding with thoroughbreds be like? Cloning was something some quarter horse owners wanted to do and went as far as a lawsuit…but after a jury ruled in favor of cloning.the verdict was appealed and the initial ruling was overturned in favor of the AQHA.

Quarter Horse Racing…Out of the Box Thinking

By far the AQHA has been aggressive in techniques used to improve the quarter horse breed. Despite their feelings on cloning, allowing thoroughbreds to be incorporated into the breed and artificial insemination has shown positive results. Some think cloning would do the same thing.

Did you know?

They even have done a movie about ‘Mine That Bird‘

50 to 1 – Official Trailer

Sony Pictures Entertainment – You Tube Video

Check out – Nole Ksum Racing Stable

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