Birdbird Among 115 Nominated for 94th Louisiana Derby

Birdbirdistheword makes his long awaited return to the Derby trail on March 10th. It is likely a full field of 14 will contest the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds. Tentative plans call for Birdbird to ship to Fair Grounds from Palm Meadows about five days ahead of the race and the colt may work over the track in New Orleans.

Steve Haskin mentions Birdbird today in his weekly update, reporting on his three recent works, details of which are listed on the sidebar of this blog.

Birdbird Speaks !

It's almost 10 AM and Birdbird has been cooled out, snacked on some hay and is back in his stall staring at me, staring at him. It's time to go but before I say goodbye, Birdbird and I have a little heart to heart.

Funny You Should Mention That

Heading back to the barn after the gallop Kenny makes a point to mention that Birdbird is stabled in the same barn that Funny Cide was four years ago. I hadn’t noticed a plaque that is on the barn wall commemorating this obviously the significance of this is not lost on him. As we drive back to the the barn I get a chance to ask him a question or two. McPeek is obviously a top tier trainer and I always wondered if he solicits owners to get business. He said he doesn’t have to but one problem he faces more these days is that owners in general seem to be more skeptical and talking them into spending money at the sales is more of an effort. I also asked if he thought that the breed as a whole is more fragile than it was say twenty years ago, his answer to this question was an unequivocal no. McPeek thinks the modern tendency to train up to races, rather than race up to them, in order for trainers to maintain higher winning percentages, makes for fewer starts and gives a false impression that the breed is more delicate than it really is.



Back at the barn, as Birdbird gets his bath I get a chance to ask some mundane questions about running the place. Behind the scenes an administrative staff of nine keeps McPeek Racing running in addition to asst trainers, grooms hotwalkers and exercise riders. One thing I did notice is that a computer was nowhere to be found.

There are three horses racing today and they must be ready for the shuttle van to Gulfstream by 9 AM. Kenny goes off to tend to those details, Birdbird is cooling out, Brad goes in search of a light for his cigarette, David goes in search of Invasor, who he has heard is stabled nearby and I wander next store to Barn 6 to meet another prominent three year named Street Sense

Kenny's Bright Spot

One of the brightest spots in Kenny McPeek’s life these days is stabled in a corner stall at Palm Meadows with a view, his name is Birdbirdistheword. . McPeek has trained some very good three-year olds during his career but rumor around the barn is that Kenny thinks Birdbird is as good or better than all of them. Better than Harlan’s Holiday? Sarava proved that Kenny McPeek doesn’t really care what other people think; he knows what he knows.

Why isn’t Birdbird getting more respect from the racing press? In Kenny’s mind Birdbird is a victim of what you might call “the Midwest bias” Every year it’s the big colts on the East and West coast that get all the attention and colts like Birdbird, whose biggest career win was the Delta Jackpot (G3) at Delta Downs, are thought to be second tier but his graded stakes earnings are definitely not second tier and it’s those earnings that guarantee Birdbird a berth at Churchill .

It’s Thursday morning and dawn is still a few minutes away; Kenny’s bright spot is happily gazing out of his stall watching his groom Roberto doing his morning chores. Roberto smiles easily but speaks little English but language is no barrier here, Birdbird knows the drill and looks just plain bored as Roberto prepares him for his morning gallop.


ROBERTO ABAMBRIZ

Down at the other end of the barn, Kenny’s day hasn’t started so well, three execise riders haven’t showed up yet and schedules may need to be shuffled. Attention to detail is the name of the game and no detail is overlooked from a loose bandage to a loose bowel movement.


BRAD EDWARDS, KENNY MCPEEK AND DAVID RUBIN

Kenny’s assistant Jesse Caudill minds the details as Birdbird is saddled and walked around the barn to stretch his legs.


JESSE CAUDILL

Birdibird is the big horse in this barn and his training takes priority; these days he works every six days. A few minutes later, Birdbird heads to the track for a gallop and a couple of groggy bloggers who are not used to being up at this hour follow behind.

Breakfast of Champions

I made a visit to Palm Meadows yesterday morning to meet Birdbirdistheword and his trainer Kenny McPeek and the Birdbird crew. Kenny and his entire staff went out of their way to accommodate us(David Rubin of Your Average Horse Player and Brad Edwards of Brad Buys a Yearling came along with me to visit).

Birdbird is a very kind horse who didn't mind us interupting his day. I have some video of Birdbird galloping and a rare interview with Birdbird himself. So please stay tuned for some interesting posts and videos here on Birdbirdblog.

Birdbird Notes # 2

Dick Downey profiles Birdbird on his site today.

In an email to me Dick mentioned how Birdbird is not a separate betting interest in the futures pools. Considering his graded earnings (he's #2) it seems like an oversight. An oversight that Birdbird will attend to shortly I am sure !!

A Military Tradition Carries On

Like so many other aspects of military tradition, the origins of the challenge coin is a matter of much debate, the most commonly held view is that the tradition began in the United States Army Air Service (a forerunner of the current United States Air Force) during World War I. As the legend goes,a wealthy lieutenant, ordered small, solid-bronze medallions (or coins) struck, which he then presented to the other pilots in his squadron as mementos of their service together.


Ray Cottrell Sr. and Larry Green are both retired from the Army and one day after Birdbird won the Delta Jackpot they were talking about how impressed they were with the treatment they received at Delta Downs and that they wanted to give a small token of their appreciation to those that had treated them so well so Larry suggested having a coin made as a special thank you for a job well done. It is both Ray and Larry's hope that this custom becomes a tradition in the thoroughbred industry too.

I am happy to say that I have been given a Birdbird coin and I want to thank Ray and everyone on Team Bird for their thoughtfulness, they are a wonderful group of people!