Before I start, allow me to reiterate. I know next to nothing about the nuances of thoroughbred racing.
But I did dine last night with a group of folks who know a lot. Long time horse players, some guys who own and race horses, a journalist who is a long time observer of the scene, etc.
The main conclusion is that Calvin Borel’s ride on Mine That Bird is among the greatest in the history of the Derby. If not the greatest. Even a know nothing like me could tell that after watching the replays.
The other thing that appears obvious even to the uninitiated is that the horse was fit to win. It’s one thing for Borel to find that space along the rail with that detour around Atomic Rain at the head of the stretch. It’s another for the horse to rocket through as if jet propelled. Which says to me, the horse was R*E*A*D*Y.
Whether that was dumb luck of the work of the heretofore journeyman trainer Chip Woolley is the $64 question. Not only had Woolley never saddled a graded stakes winner, he’d never saddled a horse that entered the gate in a graded stakes. And his record in all races this calendar year before Saturday was a less-than-glossy 1/32. That’s 3.125%. On a schlepper track in New Mexico no less. Which is pretty danged anemic whatever the sporting endeavor.
Woolley did have the great quote of the day. When asked about how little recognition he’d gotten from observers coming in the race, he testily deadpanned, “They’ll sure know about me now.”
Finally I must commend NBC. It’s post race coverage was stunning. They allowed the interview with jockey Borel to go on and on without commentary. He was genuinely exuberant and let his emotions show. It was great human interest stuff, the lore of legends. They dsiplayed all the adulation that poured over Borel and the horse on his promenade to the Winner’s Circle. The network displayed the kind of restraint rarely seen in these days when hyperbole reigns.
It is indeed a Derby that shall be remembered.
– Seedy K
3 Comments
NBC’s race announcer blew the call. He had no idea who the horse was who slipped through on the rail until he crossed the finish line when he correctly identified Mind That Bird. NBC’s story was the back story because they knew nothing about the horse. He was not in their script. Finally, when the race is over, one can usually go back to the past performances and see SOMETHING that would explain what just happened. There was nothing. Let’s just say I’ve never seen a horse cover the last quarter as fast as Mind That Bird with no past performances tied to any great speed rating. Not to take anything away from a brilliant Calvin Borel, but it makes you wonder.
I agree with Fred on both of his points. Tom Dorkin blew the call. Bird had pulled away by several lengths and he still hadn’t called his name. I went back over the sheet and triple checked all of his races. No way EVER could you pick that horse!
I believe there was a botched call also by Jack Drees in the ‘67 Proud Clarion upset Derby win. Awful weather that day, rained the whole time. Drees did the TV call and didn’t pick up the winner until finish line. I should have mentioned the botched call Saturday, but simply forgot to do it.
Unless Mine That Bird’s blood tests positive for jet propulsion fuel, or they pull a hydroplane engine from his butt, we’ll have to accept it was just one of those inexplicable upset performances. US over Russia for the hockey gold. Miracle Milan in Indiana high school tourney. Bob Beamon’s long jump in ‘68. Villanova over Georgetown.