A Bird In The Hand Is Worth $2 Million In The Bush

Jockey Calvin Borel is pumped up as he guides 50-1 shot Mine That Bird to smashing 6 3/4 length upset win in yesterday's Kentucky Derby. Mine That Bird paid $103.20 to win, the second-highest win payout in the history of the Run for the Roses. (Photo courtesy of New York Times)

All week, the Kentucky Derby had been a wide-open race from the moment the field was set at Wednesday's post position draw. Yesterday's early scratch of morning-line favorite I Want Revenge due to concern over the Wood Memorial winner's ankle made it an even more wide-open affair. Enter a horse whose last race prior to lining up in the Churchill Downs starting gate was a fourth-place finish in the Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico, and you have yourself an outcome that few, if any, pictured happening.

Mine That Bird, a 50-1 shot and third-longest shot on the board, pulled away in the stretch after coming through on the rail turning for home to post the second-biggest upset in the 135-year history of the Kentucky Derby, winning the Run for the Roses by 6 3/4 lengths and paying $103.20 to win on a $2 bet. Only Donerail provided a higher payout, lighting up the tote board to the tune of $184.90 in 1913. Mine That Bird becomes the third horse in the last four years (Barbaro and Big Brown are the other two) to win the Derby off a five-week layoff, something that until three years ago, had not been done since 1956. Jockey Calvin Borel also cemented his status as one of the best riders in the country with his second trip to the Derby winner's circle in three years, having been there aboard Street Sense in 2007.

"I wasn't worried," said Borel about coming up the rail with the winning gelding. "He's a small horse and I knew I could squeeze him through." Borel won the 2007 Derby in similar fashion, guiding Street Sense to the rail after dropping back early and making his move at the top of the stretch, finding the shortest way home.

Bob Baffert trainee Pioneerof The Nile finished second in his first start on a dirt surface, while Musket Man finished third, hitting the board for the seventh time in as many starts. Papa Clem rounded out the superfecta, while favorite Friesan Fire finished 18th for trainer Larry Jones, who had finished second in each of the last two years with Hard Spun and Eight Belles.

Winning trainer Bennie (Chip) Woolley became the sixth conditioner in the last seven years to win the Derby in his first attempt yesterday.