2009 West Virginia Derby (G2)

Date/Track:
8/1/2009, Mountaineer
Distance:
1 1/8 m (Dirt)
Age/Sex:
3 M
Time:
1:51.46

What the Nation is saying about the 2009 West Virginia Derby (G2)...

The graded stakes committee fights a double-edged sword when they release their updates each year. Blame, who won the Clark Handicap one week ago, is now a grade two winner. His victory in the race and those who competed against him (along with those who ran in years past) were catalysts to making t...Read More
  • arazi · They absolutely should. But it has two strikes against it - first, it requires extra work and secondly, it makes too much sense. · 278 days ago
  • cigar · Both are legit excuses in this game! · 278 days ago
Rachel Alexandra took down the boys again, and she did it easily in the Haskell (G1) over a sloppy track on August 2nd. Nothing that happened on Sunday was a surprise.  Read More
Soul Warrior pulled a stunning upset Saturday in the 40th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, surging past a weary Big Drama while outfinishing Mine That Bird in the final furlong. With local jockey Dale Beckner picking up the mount from an absent Miguel Mena, w...Read More
Momma always said: Dark Day, Don’t Play. Thing is, what do horses to watch mean on a day like today, unless some horse freaks and the world sees it, anyway. Even the Grade 2 Lake George is off the grass.Read More
Mine That Bird's start in Saturday's West Virgnia Derby is not a walkover. In fact, it's anything but. In what is being dubbed a "riders race," Mine That Bird needs to figure a way to close on Big Drama, the expected pace setter, in a rather paceless affair.Read More
Hundreds of miles away from the West Virginia panhandle, my heart still flutters as the first Saturday in August approaches. WV Derby Day!Read More
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Mine That Bird will make his first racing appearance since the Triple Crown when he faces five other 3-year-olds in the $750,000, West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort.Owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird was made the 4-5 morning-li...Read More
Derby winner Mine That Bird runs in West Virginia, and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra takes on Belmont hero Summer Bird in the  Haskell. Read More
Trainer Chip Woolley is excited about Mine That Bird's chances saying, "This racetrack going to fit him pretty well, we think. The track was as big a factor as anything in our decision to come to the West Virginia Derby."Read More
A trailer carrying Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Serte Equine's Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), departed Churchill Downs the morning of July 24 on an approximately seven-hour journey to West Virginia's Mountaineer Racetrack Casino and Resort."We’re ready...Read More
Organized horse racing in West Virginia dates back at least 223 years, but no horse who has won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) has ever competed in the Mountaineer State before. That status is going to change on Aug. 1, when Mine That Bird goes to the post in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at...Read More
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If Big Drama goes here instead of the Haskell I like his speed to hold up even against Mine That Bird's late closing kick. I think Big Drama is a horse that is still improving with each race. He was doing well before the Preakness, where his speed just didn't hold up, and he looked really good last time out in the Red Legend Stakes at Charlestown.
SoCal three-year-olds take center stage in the Grade 2 Swaps on July 18th, but they will have to go forward without Pioneerof The Nile , who recently retired with a leg injury. Read More
Classic winners Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra both breezed five furlongs on Monday morning. Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands winner Mine That Bird was timed in 1:02 at Churchill Downs as he gears up for the West Virginia Derby (G2) on August 1. Rachel Alexandra, winner of the BlackBerr...Read More
Mine That Bird continued his progress toward the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) when he breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5 July 7 at Churchill Downs. The time was co-sixth fastest of the day among 66 horses working the distance over a fast track.Read More
Trainer Chip Woolley announced July 4 that Mike Smith would ride Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 1 and the $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) on Aug. 29.Read More
Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's Mine That Bird remains without a confirmed rider for the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.Read More
A potential conflict could lead to jockey Calvin Borel snubbing Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird once again. Borel is tentatively scheduled to ride Mine That Bird in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 1, but there is a possibility Borel could vacate the mount in favor o...Read More
  • Show All 4 Comments
  • mshutty · Totally disagree. Warrior's Reward will defeat Quality Road due to lack of current conditioning and questionable ability without a clear speed bias to work in his favor. Warrior's Reward is a late developer and will be ready for a peak effort at Saratoga. Not a big Calvin fan but he did make the right decision in this case · 433 days ago
  • arazi · Regardless... this was a decision of the Nafzger/Wilkes barn over Mine That Bird... had nothing to do with Warrior's Reward. · 433 days ago
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