Win, place and show
Elmont, N.Y. - At least the victory stayed in the family. Mine that Bird, this year's Kentucky Derby winner, finished third in this year's $1 million Belmont Stakes.
Elmont, N.Y. — At least the victory stayed in the family.
Mine That Bird, this year's Kentucky Derby winner co-owned by a veterinarian, finished third in this year's $1 million Belmont Stakes, the final race in the 2009 Triple Crown.
Winning owner: Leonard Blach, DVM, at his New Mexico ranch. (PHOTO: CHRISTY PENN)
The winner, Summer Bird, and Mine That Bird have the same sire, Birdstone, the 2004 Belmont winner.
Mine That Bird was ridden at Belmont Park by Calvin Borel, the jockey who steered him to victory in the Derby. The 3-year-old gelding took the lead at the mid-stretch but dropped behind as Summer Bird won by 2.75 lengths. Dunkirk was second.
Borel rode the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes, so was looking to win all three races on two different horses. Mine that Bird ran second in the Preakness.
Equine veterinarian Leonard Blach, of Roswell, N.M., owns Mine that Bird with his neighbor and business partner, Mark Allen. They purchased the horse for $400,000 after it became last year's 2-year-old champion in Canada.
