KENTUCKY DERBY OBSERVATIONS by The Wizard on Saturday, May 02, 2009

(8) MINE THAT BIRD - Hindsight as you know, is 20/20. But, I think you need to have sharper vision than that to tab this horse as the Derby winner. Nevertheless, he is the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, coming from dead-last to emerge victorious in an absolute shocker. His devastating closing rally would have made 2007 Kentucky Derby hero Street Sense proud, saving every bit of ground down the backstretch and around the far turn. Eventually, Borel put him on the rail once again after turning into the stretch, bursting through a narrow opening like a wild horse to engage (16) Pioneerof The Nile in midstretch for command. Once he switched leads, it was a done deal, as Mine That Bird literally sprouted wings to distance himself from the field and proceeded to carve out his niche into racing history. (16) Pioneerof The Nile raced outside runners and within striking distance of the lead down the backstretch, moved in earnest to engage the leaders in early stretch, gained a brief, but tenuous lead, and then was powerless to match strides with the winner while holding well enough to save the place. (2) MUSKET MAN - Moved to the extreme outside for his bid racing around the far turn, continued to be widest of all while closing steadily in deep stretch, and just missed the place by a nose. In all likelihood, he probably would have been second with a better trip. (7) PAPA CLEM - Moved in tandem with the Musket Man in the stretch, and continued on willingly to get fourth money in a surprisingly good effort, despite his pre-race antics in the post parade. (6) FRIESAN FIRE and (15) DUNKIRK made little impact in this race and simply did not bring their ‘A’ game to Churchill Downs, as did many others.