Mine That Bird For Sale?

Sid Fernando, an internationally known pedigree writer and former bloodstock agent, has posted on his blog that offers have been made to purchase Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird (photo to left). According to Fernando an offer has already been made and apparently declined by Mine That Bird owners Dr. Leonard Blach and Mark Allen, both of Roswell, New Mexico. Neither the asking price nor the offer have been disclosed but it is speculated that it would take between $4 million and $5 million to purchase Mine That Bird.

Only 14 other North American thoroughbreds have made more than $6 million on the track including Curlin, the all-time leader with $10,501,800.

Anytime a Kentucky Derby winner is available for sale or even syndication, it's news. But what makes this particularly interesting is the fact that Mine That Bird is a gelding and has no additional earning power in the breeding shed after his racing career.

Kentucky Derby winners, regardless of their pedigree, are typically able to command considerable fees for their breeding - at least for a few years before their get begin to pass through the auction rings and perform on the track. That's when most stallion careers are established regardless of racing history or pedigree.

Big Brown, last year's Derby winner, has a stud fee of $65,000 per breeding and 2007 Derby winner Street Sense stands for $60,000. Stallions in that price range generate approximately $4 million to $6 million annually depending on the number of mares they able breed each season. That would make their value somewhere in the $30-$50 million range with a book of between 60 and 100 mares annually.

2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo was an exception to the Derby-winner rule as he stood for only $12,500 during 2006, his first year as a stallion. He had two major things going agaist him as a stallion in that his racing career featured only three wins from 16 career starts and his sire Holy Bull, is not known as a sire of sires in breeding circles. Giacomo stands for $7,500 at Adena Springs Farms near Lexington, Kentucky.

BARBARO FULL BROTHER WINS
While on Facebook this afternoon, I noticed the 8th race at Delaware Park was of sudden interest as friend Alex Brown had posted that Barbaro's little brother was set to run. Moments after the race, Brown again posted, this time with results that Nicanor (bottom photo) had won. Both Nicanor and 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro are by the stallion Dynaformer, and out of the Carson City mare La Ville Rouge. Both were bred by their owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and Nicanor is also trained by Michael Matz.

Nicanor's victory in the $40,500 allowance race on the turf was his second consecutive victory since moving from the dirt. He broke his maiden last time out by some 15 lengths on the grass and won today by 3-3/4 lengths. He now has two wins and two seconds from five career starts and earnings of $60,900 and today was ridden by Rosie Napravnik in the 1-1/8 mile turf race.