Mine That Bird a Cinderella Story? Try Paddington Bear

Mine That Bird has been a fairy tale, both for his owners and the sport in general.

But whereas some people will say Cinderella, I say Paddington Bear.

For those who don’t know or don’t remember: Paddington (born Pastuso) was orphaned young and raised in Darkest Peru, by an aunt. When she went to live in the Home for Retired Bears, she taught him English and arranged for him to stow away on a ship.

The little bear eventually arrived at Paddington Station in London. Soon the Brown family noticed him sitting all alone on the platform, wearing a note around his neck, then scooped him up and took him home.

This is where his books begin.

Looking at Mine That Bird, his story’s not much different: purchased at a young age, his formative races were spent in Canada, where he was named Champion Juvenile. He was then bought and moved to the southwestern United States, and seemed to be lost.

Until his trainer drove him across the country to Churchill Downs, where he lucked into one of the track’s best riders, and won the sport’s biggest prize from out of the clouds. Then, perhaps even more amazing, he came back two short weeks later to run a strong second and legitimize his prior victories.

So you’d think there’d be enough to talk about with just his story.

But no, there’s been nonstop drama with who will ride this little son of Birdstone.

I really appreciate when riders honor their commitments but this is just getting ridiculous: Mine That Bird’s Derby rider takes off to ride the Preakness winner, while his Preakness jockey can’t ride the Belmont because he has mount in California.

The whole thing is made more amusing by the fact that Mine That Bird has been affiliated with half the cast of the Animal Planet series “Jockeys.” Chantal Sutherland in his early races at Woodbine, Mike Smith in the Preakness, and possibly Garrett Gomez in the Belmont.

There aren’t a lot of top-class jockeys left to ride in New York that day, but there are some.

If I were the owners of Mine That Bird, I’d pin a note around his neck like Paddington’s aunt did with him: “Please Look After This Bear. Thank You.”