Mine That Bird breaks Sports Illustrated Cover Drought

It has been 5 years since a Thoroughbred made the full cover of Sports Illustrated. Smarty Jones made the cover of the May 10 2004 issue. Since than Derby Winners Giacomo, Barbaro, Street Sense and Big Brown all failed to make the cover. Back in the day, it was customary for the Derby winner to be on the cover and often racing got the SI cover shot the week before the Derby along with a large preview article. I've criticized the SI lack of coverage before, so in a nod of fair play I note the surprising change. The past few years, SI has given racing short shrift with only a 1/2 page tiny recap of the '08 Breeders Cup. Who would have guessed it would take Mine That Bird to break the drought.