Mine That Bird Pulls Off 50-1 Derby Shocker

3-year-old colt pulls off 50-to-1 longshot victory

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted May 2, 2009 5:53 PM CDT

(Newser) – Mine That Bird, a 50-1 longshot picked by none of horse racing's intelligentsia, pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the 135-year history of the Kentucky Derby today, writes Ed McNamara of Newsday. The "disrespected little gelding" trailed the entire pack of 19 horses after 6 furlongs before making his move and prompting a buzz of "Who's the No. 8" among the 153,000 at Churchill Downs, writes McNamara. He won by nearly 7 lengths.

"You've got a hole, you've got a shot," said jockey Calvin Borel, who trailed by 11 lengths with a quarter-mile to go. "I didn't know he'd give me that kind of response, but I figured he was going to finish. It's not the first half-mile that counts, it's the last one." Unheralded trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. of New Mexico drove the horse 1,700 miles to the track himself with a trailer hitched to his Ford pickup. The experts gave him no chance. "How little we know," writes McNamara.

[Images (6)]

[Videos (1)]

Calvin Borel rides Mine That Bird to a victory in the 135th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Calvin Borel rides Mine That Bird to a victory the 135th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Jockey Calvin Borel celebrates after winning the Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird during the 135th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Mine That Bird (8) and jockey Calvin Borel, get squeezed horses at the start. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Ranch owner Mark Allen holds the trophy after Mine That Bird won the 135th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Mine That Bird's trainer Bennie Woolley and jockey Calvin Borel. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

And they're off. (YouTube)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Mine That Bird's Ex-Jockey Says Filly Will Smoke Him

(NEWSER) - Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird has no chance of beating the Preakness favorite, filly Rachel Alexandra, says her jockey Calvin Borel. Borel ought to know; he’s the one who rode Bird to victory, before jumping ship to Alexandra, the Daily News reports. “I don’t think he can run with my filly, but he’ll run a big race," he says. More»

Triple Crown Bid Means Millions for Belmont

(NEWSER) - The New York Racing Association has a lot riding on the outcome of tomorrow’s Preakness, Bloomberg reports. If Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird prevails, the resulting Triple Crown shot at Belmont could bring the association, which operates New York's three thoroughbred tracks, an extra $3 million in ticket, betting, and concession revenue. “I’ll be at the Preakness and rooting for Mine That Bird,” NYRA’s CEO said. More»

Mine That Bird May Skip Preakness

(NEWSER) - Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird may pass over the Preakness and aim for a strong Belmont Stakes run in June instead, the AP reports. "The Preakness tends to be a little more speed-biased and I don't know that that's going to fit our horse," said trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. But co-owner Mark Allen said the horse will run if he's "doing good." A Derby winner hasn't skipped the Preakness in 13 years. More»

Animal Kingdom Wins Kentucky Derby

Nehro is second and Mucho Macho Man third

(AP) - Animal Kingdom sped past the leaders in the turn at Churchill Downs today and roared down the middle of the stretch to win the Kentucky Derby. Jockey John Velazquez guided the 3-year-old colt, who finished ahead of Nehro and Mucho Macho Man. Favorite Dialed In was never a factor. More»

Female Jockey Aims for History at Derby

Rosie Napravnik is sixth woman to ride in Kentucky Derby

(NEWSER) - New Jersey native Rosie Napravnik hopes to make a little history today by becoming the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. She heads into the day with 20-1 odds aboard Pants on Fire, reports the Star-Ledger in a profile. Napravnik, 23, will be the sixth woman to ride in the Derby, and she's got a solid track record behind her—first-, second-, or third-place finishes in 52% of her 445 starts. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Mine That Bird Pulls Off 50-1 Derby Shocker