A Double Eagle Double?

I'll fully admit that Mine That Bird never really captured my imagination, despite his being ridden in the Derby by one of my favorite jockeys, Calvin Borel. Nothing against the little guy, he's clearly got a huge heart and lots of gumption, but he just never caught my eye. None of the "Bird" horses have, and if I'm totally honest it probably has to do with Birdstone's upset of Smarty Jones in the 2004 Belmont Stakes. Nothing like having some sort of weird sire-grudge, is there?

At any rate, I am intrigued by the possibility of MTB's connections (Mark Allen's Double Eagle Ranch) winning both the Kentucky Derby (with Mine That Bird) and the All-American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs with their quarter horse, Winners Cartel. It's a very cool thought, winning the big thoroughbred title with a long shot AND taking the quarter horse title with another real contender.

And perhaps the best part of the races at the All-American today is that Mine That Bird will be leading the post-parade, so he'll get to bask in the well earned glow of love from his home crowd. It's a very nice thing that Mark Allen and Chip Woolley are doing to let the hometown fans get a glimpse of the brown gelding who has brought them so much joy. All horses need that victory lap where they can be appreciated and cheered for. And getting him to Ruidoso was no small task...the trip from Saratoga Springs started off with a van ride to Newark, then "hopping" a flight from Newark to El Paso, and a further van trip to Ruidoso.

Good luck to Winners Cartel and all the Mine That Bird connections on winning a pretty major DOUBLE!