Derby Winner Owned by Figure Tied to Stevens
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The winner of the Kentucky Derby is owned by the son of a key figure in the corruption trial of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska.
The Anchorage Daily News reports that Mine That Bird was bought by Mark Allen and a partner for $400,000. The newspaper says the money came from the sale of the now-defunct oil field services business VECO Corp., founded by Allen's father, Bill Allen.
Mark Allen's Double Eagle Ranch of Roswell, N.M., also keeps So Long Birdie, a race stud once partly owned Stevens.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bill Allen pleaded guilty in 2007 to bribing Alaska politicians, but in a plea deal, won immunity for Mark Allen and other family members. Bill Allen has not been sentenced.