After four major defections this week, including race day favorite, I Want Revenge, a race that seemed wide open was won in convincing fashion by a relative unknown. Coming down the stretch it appeared as though Pioneer of the Nile, Musket Man and Papa Clem were going to hammer it out to the wire. It would have been the closest Derby win in a long time.

However, one horse was flying up the rail fittingly named Mine That Bird. Suddenly a horse no one thought had a chance pulled ahead to win by 6 3/4 lengths, the largest margin of victory since 1946. Barbaro and Big Brown won by large margins, and shortly after, everyone said the Triple Crown drought was about to end.

No one is saying that now. Maybe it is because his trainer won just one race all year. Now make that two. Maybe it is because the colt was purchased for just $9500 and his recent outings in New Mexico did not exactly scream champion. Another colt was purchased for a bargain basement price back in 1976, and he went on to wear the crown in 1977. So, it can happen.

Mine That Bird certainly doesn’t have a pauper’s pedigree. His sire won the Belmont Stakes and thwarted America’s darling, Smarty Jones in his Triple Crown bid. His granddaddy wore the roses in 1996 (Grindstone). His maternal grandfather is the sire of dual Horse of the Year Curlin.

While it would have been nice to see Larry Jones win this year to atone for his haunting loss of Eight Belles last year, Friesen Fire finished way back. Perhaps, this was the best storyline, however, and Mine That Bird certainly has the makings of America’s horse. To see a horse that was originally purchased for just under $10,000 win the roses, is what the American dream is built on. Anyone can win the Derby.  A horse doesn’t have to be owned by a sheik or be a multi million dollar yearling purchase. In the end it was a little gelding ridden by a small town Louisiana native who looks like he would be more comfortable in  a trailer park than meeting the Queen of England who won the hearts and roses at the 135th running of America’s most prestigious race.

Mine That Bird may not be such a fluke or one hit wonder either. He was good enough at two to string together four wins, and become Canada’s two year old of the year. He was then sold and transferred to New Mexico, where he certainly didn’t seem to live up to his two year old campaign. Maybe he just wasn’t ready or maybe he just relished the sloppy going at Churchill Downs. Either way he is the only horse that stands a chance at winning the most coveted prize in all of horse racing. Now his connections are not sure The Preakness is well suited for their horse, or if it is even in their plans. If he is to pass, he would be the fourth Derby winner in history to pass the second jewel. Bubbling Over passed in 1926 and his own grandsire passed after being injured in 1996. Spend a Buck is the only horse in history that was perfectly healthy and opted for another race instead of The Preakness Stakes.

If Mind That Bird runs at Pimlico he will likely face Papa Clem, Mr. Fantasy and Take the Points. Quality Road will not be ready for the Preakness, and the jury is out on I Want Revenge, Friesen Fire and Pioneer of the Nile. Fifty eight percent of Derby winners also win the Preakness. If he can duplicate his Derby run, the second jewel is his.

Making the task easier is the fact that the most talented, and fastest three year old will be in the barn on Preakness day, and that is just plain wrong. Rachel Alexandra was nothing short of breathtaking this week, and for the first time ever a realistic comparision to the great Ruffian can be made. Calvin Borel never moved on the filly, and she coasted home to win by over 20 lengths. Not even Mine That Bird could have handled her on Saturday, and it is unlikely he will ever be up to that task. Lucky for him, he can get through the Triple Crown without ever having to face that star filly.