Mine That Bird Pulls Off 50-1 Derby Shocker

(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»

(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»

(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»

Bodemeister loses down the stretch in repeat of Kentucky Derby

(AP) - I'll Have Another overtook Bodemeister down the straight to win the Preakness Stakes and keep alive his hopes of winning the US Triple Crown. In a race that was a virtual repeat of the Kentucky Derby, I'll Have Another raced from behind today to beat pace-setter Bodemeister, who also finished second in the Derby. I'll Have Another now has a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. More»

Dead male found just 4 barns away from I'll Have Another

(NEWSER) - The day after I'll Have Another broke from the field to win the first leg of the Triple Crown, Kentucky police are investigating a man's body that was found at Churchill Downs this morning. The body was found in Barn 8, just four barns away from where the new Derby winner is stabled, though police tell the AP that he had no connection to I'll Have Another or Churchill Downs. Police are treating the death as a homicide. It's not the vaunted track's first brush with death: Jockey Michael Baze died of an apparent overdose near the stables about a week after last year's Derby. More»