Horse players might take a shot with Mine That Bird in Breeders Cup odds because they remember that he won the 2009 Kentucky Derby at odds of 50-1.
What they might not know is that the horse has not won a race since. He will still get some action in online gambling though since he did win the Derby and because he is trained by D. Wayne Lukas.
Mine That Bird is being pointed to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on November 6th. Lukas may have figured out that going around just one turn could be the way to go with Mine That Bird. The horse has run 13 straight races around two turns but when he went around just one turn as a 2-year old he won 3 of 4 races. Lukas does not believe Mine That Bird wants to go a mile and a quarter so the Classic is out.
Trainer and Jockey Switch – We all remember that Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby with jockey Calvin Borel. The horse was a great story and everyone loved to root for him. The problem for bettors is that the horse is winless in his last eight starts since then. Owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach moved the horse to trainer D. Wayne Lukas earlier this year.
Bounce Back? Can Mine That Bird bounce back with Lukas as the trainer? Some signs are pointing that way. Lukas has been experimenting with Mine That Bird and he is learning what the horse likes and what he does not. He was awful on the grass so the turf is out. Rajiv Maragh replaced Borel as the jockey and that also seems to have helped a little bit. Mine That Bird worked five-eighths of a mile Sunday in 1:01 1/5. That was the sixth fastest of the 25 at the distance that morning.
Field for the Dirt Mile – Two of the main contenders in Breeders Cup odds at Sbg global will be Godolphin’s Vineyard Haven and Gayego. Another serious threat is Tizway who won the Kelso Handicap by five lengths. Tizway was third to Quality Road and Musket Man in the Met Mile. He was third last year in the Jockey Club Gold Cup to Summer Bird and Quality Road. Other contenders in online gambling include Crown of Thorns and Here Comes Ben who has won four in a row. Warrior’s Reward, Mad Flatter and Thiskyhasnolimit should be in the race and it is possible that Bribon, Redding Colliery and Dakota Phone could be entered.