SOUL WARRIOR UPSETS WEST VIRGINIA DERBY; MINE THAT BIRD THIRD
By Michael Cusortelli for SureBet
CHESTER, West Virginia (August 1, 2009) – Calling it “the best pick-up mount I’ve ever had,” jockey Dale Beckner rode longshot Soul Warrior to his first stakes victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park.
Soul Warrior races for Ahmad Zayat’s Zayat Stables LLC and is trained by Steve Asmussen. The Kentucky-bred colt by Lion Heart went 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.46, and his margin of victory was a neck from odds-on favorite and pacesetter Big Drama.
Beckner replaced Miguel Mena, who was named to ride Soul Warrior when entries were drawn on Tuesday but missed his flight from Saratoga Springs, New York.
Darren Fleming, one of Asmussen’s assistants, saddled Soul Warrior for the West Virginia Derby. Just a few minutes after the race, another of Asmussen’s runners, the Mr Greeley colt Kensei, won the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Racecourse.
“Dale has ridden for Steve before at Presque Isle Downs,” said Fleming, referring to the track in western Pennsylvania that opened for racing in 2007. “He’s been around Steve, and he knows his program. Right before this race, Dale called Steve at Saratoga and got his instructions. It turned out nice.”
Sent to post at odds of 23-1 and coupled with stable mate Sunday Sunrise, Soul Warrior was making his first start since June 26, when he ran second in the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. At Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans last winter, the colt ran fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and sixth in the Risen Star Stakes (G3).
Soul Warrior’s victory was his third in seven outs, and the $457,500 winner’s share of the West Virginia Derby purse increased his earnings to $589,720.
As expected, Big Drama set the early pace with fractions of :23.73, :46.56 and 1:10.45. Soul Warrior and Mine That Bird were on even terms in second place at the top of the stretch, but Soul Warrior kicked loose from Mine That Bird and then ran past Big Drama to the wire.
Mine That Bird, the winner of the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) for owners Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Ranch of Roswell, New Mexico, finished third, 1 ¾ lengths behind Soul Warrior. Mike Smith rode the Birdstone gelding for trainer Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr.
Smith kept Mine That Bird far back early, hoping that the gelding would unleash the big late run that he used to win the Kentucky Derby. After the race, Smith said that he might have asked Mine That Bird for that run too soon.
“It was a total rider error – I’m not really happy with the way I rode this horse today,” said Smith. “I decided to take him back, and all day long whoever was on the lead was winning on this track today.
“My horse was pulling on me pretty hard,” added the rider. “Big Drama was out there about 4 or 5 lengths in front, and he was just going so easy. I thought I needed to give myself some kind of chance, so I asked my horse before the turn, and Mine That Bird just doesn’t want to run that way. He just wants to sit back and make that one big run.
“If I could have done it over, I would have left him back there and come with a bigger run. I just wanted to give myself a chance and not let Big Drama get too far in front. It turned out that wasn’t the right thing to do.”
Mine That Bird’s connections said that the gelding will be pointed next to the $1-million Shadwell Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on August 29. After that, he will return to New Mexico and lead the post parade for the $2-million All American Futurity (G1) for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs on September 7.
Mine That Bird was the first Kentucky Derby to ever race in the state of West Virginia. The West Virginia Derby was run before a track-record crowd of 21,218 that included the governor of the state, Joe Manchin.
Awesome Rhythm, Sunday Sunrise and Monty’s Best completed the order of finish.