Mine That Bird, pulling away from the stallions (Jamie Newell)

I’m not a big believer in the “racing gods”. However, if there are racing gods, I have to think they had something special in mind for the likes of the Dolphus Morrisons of the game when a gelding who fetched a mere $9,500 at Keeneland’s yearling auction won the Stallion Derby.

To make it even better, one of Mine That Bird’s owners Mark Allen, was quoted on the purchase of their unlikely winner:

We wanted a racehorse, not a stallion.

Take that, Stallion Derby!

Posted by dana on May 03 2009    
Filed Under: :), Geldings, 2009, Mine That Bird, Sweet Revenge, Kentucky Derby, Breeding, Let Horses Race, Derby Trail, Racing

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Gelding Mine That Bird, winner of 2009 Derby, ruining it for all the Stallions! (Sarah K. Andrew)

To quote excellent handicapper and GbG pal Derek Simon:

Ha! Ha! I quit handicapping. Are you kidding me? Mine that Bird? Anybody who had that — you need a statue erected in your honor!

(partymanners)

Isolation of Mine That Bird replay (that I can’t embed).

Congrats to the connections, see you in a couple of weeks!

(new GbG Derby policy: $2 to win on everyone over 30-1.)

Posted by dana on May 02 2009    
Filed Under: Geldings, 2009, Mine That Bird, Churchill Downs, Sarah K. Andrew, Derby Trail, Triple Crown, Calvin Borel, Racing

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Lava Man in the Eddie Reade (Charles Pravata)

Lava Man will lead the parade to the post for today’s Cal Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Post time is 4:30 PST if you have access to view Oak Tree and would like to get one last look at Lava Man on the track!

Posted by dana on Oct 05 2008    
Filed Under: Charles Pravata, Geldings, 2008, Santa Anita, Lava Man, Fans, Retirement, Racing

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Fan favorite Evening Attire at Aqueduct (Sarah K. Andrew)

No doubt the blogosphere and racing sites in general will be regaling Evening Attire with well deserved retirement send offs in the next couple of days.

Until then, just wanted to say a simple “thank you” to Evening Attire and his connections.

His last out, a win on the road in the Greenwood Cup at Philadelphia Park:

The announcer couldn’t have said it better, “Evening Attire, amazing!”

Posted by dana on Sep 28 2008    
Filed Under: Get Well Soon, Farewell, Geldings, 2008, Sarah K. Andrew, Evening Attire, Fans, Retirement, Race Replay, Injury, Racing

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My all time fav shot of Lava Man, winning his 3rd Hollywood Gold Cup (Charles Pravata)

The reports are in, my favorite horse currently racing is official retired. As it turns out he has some issues with his ankles so he won’t get the Funny Cide one last harrah race many of us were hoping for. It’s still unclear if he’ll be Doug O’Neill’s stable pony so keep your fingers crossed!

There weren’t as many of his races up at YouTube as I would have liked, in an ideal world I would post all three Hollywood Gold Cup’s and both Santa Anita Handicaps.

2005 Hollywood Gold Cup:

2006 Hollywood Gold Cup:

You’ll have to go to NTRA video archive to the 2007 Hollywood Gold Cup.

2007 Santa Anita Handicap:

Back to NTRA for the 2006 Santa Anita Handicap.

While not a race, here are his last minutes on the track as a race horse after the Eddie Read:

I’ve written about Lava Man frequently and you can see all of my posts here.

Congratulations to Lava Man’s connections for possibly the best claim ever and many thanks for keeping him around… he’ll be missed. Enjoy your retirement old man!

Posted by dana on Jul 30 2008    
Filed Under: Farewell, Charles Pravata, Geldings, Hollywood Gold Cup, 2008, Doug O'Neill, Santa Anita, YouTube, Retirement, Fans, Lava Man, Race Replay, :(, Hollywood Park, Racing

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