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West Virginia Derby (gr. 2)

MOUNTAINEER CASINO RACETRACK & RESORT, Chester, WV

  • Purse: 750000
  • Date: August 1, 2009
  • Class: Grade II
  • TV:
  • Age: 3 yo
  • Race: 8
  • Distance: One And One Eighth Miles
  • Post Time: 5:45 PM ET
 Five-Cross
1 Soul Warrior Margin: neck BRIS: 98TrueNick: B $457,500

2006, Chestnut Colt
Lion Heart   - Urmia, Meadowlake

  • Breeder:Bob Austin, Copperhead Stable & David Hanley
  • Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC (Ahmed Zayat)
  • Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
  • Jockey: Miguel Mena

Sire: Lion Heart  , Chestnut, 2001. Raced 2 years. 10 starts, 5 wins, $1,390,800. Lifetime: 0 yearlings sold, median $45,000.

Broodmare Sire: Meadowlake, Chestnut, 1983.

2 Big Drama Margin: BRIS: 97TrueNick: A $150,000

2006, Dark Bay or Brown Colt
Montbrook   - Riveting Drama, Notebook

  • Breeder:Harold L. Queen
  • Owner: Harold L. Queen
  • Trainer: David Fawkes
  • Jockey: Eibar Coa

Sire: Montbrook  , Dark Bay or Brown, 1990. Raced 1 years. 8 starts, 5 wins, $373,728. Lifetime: 0 yearlings sold, median $25,000.

Broodmare Sire: Notebook, Bay, 1985.

3 Mine That Bird Margin: BRIS: 96TrueNick: A+ $75,000

2006, Bay Gelding
Birdstone   - Mining My Own, Smart Strike  

  • Breeder:Lamantia, Blackburn & Needham/Betz Thoroughbreds
  • Owner: Double Eagle Ranch (Mark Allen) and Buena Suerte Equine (Leonard P. Blach)
  • Trainer: Bennie L. Woolley, Jr.
  • Jockey: Mike E. Smith

Sire: Birdstone  , Bay, 2001. Raced 2 years. 9 starts, 5 wins, $1,575,600. Lifetime: 0 yearlings sold, median $20,000.

Broodmare Sire: Smart Strike  , Bay, 1992.

Time: 1:51.46   Track: Fast

Others: Awesome Rhythm, $37,500; Sunday Sunrise, $18,750; Monty's Best, $11,250.

FinishHorseJockeyTrainer
1Soul WarriorMiguel MenaSteven M. Asmussen
2Big DramaEibar CoaDavid Fawkes
3Mine That BirdMike E. SmithBennie L. Woolley, Jr.
4Awesome RhythmJames McAleneyJohn A. Ross
5Sunday SunriseCorey J. LanerieSteven M. Asmussen
6Monty's BestEurico Rosa Da SilvaReade Baker

Payoffs

HorseJockeyWinPlaceShow
Soul WarriorMiguel Mena$48.00$8.00$2.60
Big DramaEibar Coa$2.80$2.20
Mine That BirdMike E. Smith$2.20
EXOTIC PAYOFFS:
$2.00 Exacta (1-4)$111.00
$2.00 Trifecta (1-4-2)$119.00

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Mine That Bird Back at Churchill

Mine That Bird Back at Churchill

Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), arrived back at Churchill Downs Monday morning after his third-place finish in Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Monday, June 08, 2009
Belmont Contenders Post-Race Statuses Updated

Belmont Contenders Post-Race Statuses Updated

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird obviously loves New York. He loves it so much that he could return this summer to run at Saratoga Race Course in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) and the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I). Sunday, June 07, 2009
Summer Bird, Desormeaux Soar to Belmont Upset

Summer Bird, Desormeaux Soar to Belmont Upset

It was a bird that won the June 6 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, but it was not Mine That Bird but rather Summer Bird that won the final leg of the Triple Crown. Saturday, June 06, 2009
Mine That Bird 1-1 In Early Belmont Wagering

Mine That Bird 1-1 In Early Belmont Wagering

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr.I) winner Mine That Bird is the big even-money favorite in early wagering for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), with Charitable Man and Chocolate Candy both at 5-1. Saturday, June 06, 2009

Morning Line Blog Live from Belmont!

Join Blood-Horse Editor-in-Chief Dan Liebman for a live blog from Belmont Park Saturday, June 6th, from Noon EDT to 1:00 pm. Saturday, June 06, 2009
Sunny Day, Horses Ready for Belmont

Sunny Day, Horses Ready for Belmont

We tend to always knock weathermen, but they have been spot on with their predictions for Belmont week. The day before the final leg of the Triple Crown, as predicted, was as miserable as it gets, but race day itself, again as prognosticators said it would, dawned bright and beautiful. Saturday, June 06, 2009
Haskin's Belmont Picks: No Dunkirk Evacuation

Haskin's Belmont Picks: No Dunkirk Evacuation

Warning: what you are about to read should be taken with extreme skepticism. Not to sound self deprecating, but yours truly is on one nasty losing streak in the Triple Crown, and the selection for the Belmont Stakes will be made as a means of self defense. Friday, June 05, 2009
Mine That Bird and Woolley, Both Unfazed

Mine That Bird and Woolley, Both Unfazed

Nothing seems to faze Mine That Bird, and lately, nothing seems to faze his trainer, Chip Woolley, either. There is a reason. Friday, June 05, 2009
That Handicapping Show: The Belmont (Video)

That Handicapping Show: The Belmont (Video)

Jason, Tom, and the Wizard preview the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Thursday, June 04, 2009
Haskin's Belmont Report: Love That Bird

Haskin's Belmont Report: Love That Bird

Ok, I am officially smitten with Mine That Bird. I admit to being one of those misguided souls who paid no attention to him before the Kentucky Derby other than to comment what a beautiful mover he was. After the Preakness and seeing him on the Belmont track Thursday morning, I have to say in simplest of terms this is one cool horse. Thursday, June 04, 2009
Confidence High in Mine That Bird Camp

Confidence High in Mine That Bird Camp

After working Mine That Bird June 1 at Churchill Downs, jockey Calvin Borel "guaranteed" that the gelded son of Birdstone would win the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Believe it or not, Borel is now even more confident. Thursday, June 04, 2009

Belmont Contenders: Pedigree Profiles

Insight into the pedigrees of this year's Belmont contenders is only a click away. This easy-to-read report includes pedigree analyses from Alan Porter and Avalyn Hunter. Order your copy today and separate the contenders from the pretenders. Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Haskin's Belmont Report: Pace Makes the Race

Haskin's Belmont Report: Pace Makes the Race

The two key figures in the pace scenario for Saturday's Belmont Stakes are Miner's Escape and Charitable Man. The former will be a longshot in the field of 10, while Charitable Man was made the 3-1 second choice behind Mine That Bird. So, let's see how this may play out. Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Belmont Preview: Borel Center of Attention

Belmont Preview: Borel Center of Attention

Mine That Bird will face nine rivals in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Jockey Calvin Borel will look to become the first jockey to win all three Triple Crown races on two different horses. Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Mine That Bird 2-1 Favorite For Belmont

Mine That Bird 2-1 Favorite For Belmont

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird was among 10 3-year-olds entered for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 6. Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Dr. Blach Makes New York Housecall

Dr. Blach Makes New York Housecall

So, when the interviews are done and night spreads over Churchill Downs and all that remains to be done at Churchill Downs is cleaning tons of trash off the ground, does one's life really change after winning the world's most famous race? Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Mine That Birds Papers Stolen from Truck

Mine That Birds Papers Stolen from Truck

Trainer Chip Woolley Jr., who trains Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird, woke up the morning of June 2 to find out his truck had been burglarized and Mine That Bird's registration papers missing. Tuesday, June 02, 2009
ESPN to Provide Belmont Coverage

ESPN to Provide Belmont Coverage

ESPN and ABC will offer seven hours of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) coverage starting at noon ET--including ABC's two-hour race broadcast June 6 at 5 p.m.--as jockey Calvin Borel attempts to complete an unprecedented personal Triple Crown. Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Borel: 'We're Going to Win' Belmont Stakes

Borel: 'We're Going to Win' Belmont Stakes

An exuberant Calvin Borel expressed confidence that Mine That Bird will win the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) after working the diminutive gelding a half-mile in :50 on a warm, sunny June 1 morning at Churchill Downs. Monday, June 01, 2009

Mine That Bird's Owners Check In

Mine That Bird's entourage grew a bit the morning of May 31 as Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach, the New Mexico-based co-owners of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner, made a quick stop in Louisville en route to New York for the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Sunday, May 31, 2009

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The Answer Man to the Rescue

I address some of the comments from my last blog, many of which denigrate the "other" horse, and at least attempt to put them in some kind of perspective. [More]