She's Going to the Preakness

[LarryBird]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/50683/borel-commits-to-rachel-filly-to-preakness

[grayarabs]

Don't know quite what to think about this. Had expected CB to ride MTB in the Preakness - hoping for another win. RA will certainly be a threat to MTB. What a change of events.

[Chester's Mom]

Oh Poodle Poots! I hate this!! I was so excited at the thought of MTB and Calvin in the Preakness. :mad:

[RussianBlue]

A bizarre, unprecedented turn of events, to be sure. Whoever heard of a Derby winner jumping off the Derby horse to ride a rival in the Preakness?? :eek:

Rachel will definitely go off as the favorite. I'm thinking something like 9/5.

[cloudyandcallie]

Go filly go!
I hope she wins and MTB is a close 2nd.

[Indy]

I was hoping he'd stay on MTB.

I wonder if that's ever happened before, where the Derby winner looses his jockey to another horse the week before the Preakness (and not due to injury)?
And along the same lines, has a jockey ever won Triple Crown races on more than one horse in the same year?

[Lori T]

According to Calvin's mom-in-law:
The new owners are trying to get RA into the Belmont. If that happens, Calvin will be the rider.
In that case, he obviously will not be riding MTB and the owners have stated they don't want anyone else on MTB.
So my guess is MTB will not run?
Not sure how I feel about this, was really looking forward to Calvin going for the triple crown...dang it, there go our plans for a fundraiser opportunity!
Can anyone say HEARTBURN?

Also, Calvin will be on Jay Leno next Tuesday night.

[saratoga]

I think Chantal Sutherland should ride him since she did so well with him in Canada!!!!!

[BabyGoose]

SHOOT! I was so looking forward to Calvin and MTB in the Preakness. I wonder if MTB will even go for it now. What a huge disapointment. :( Maybe they will find another rider for MTB and he will still win! Now THAT would be the ultimate underdog story.

[Laurierace]

The plans for the Belmont are irrelevant at this point and may or may not be relevant after the Preakness. That is why it has always been my fave TC race. The Preakness is always the race that lets us know whether or not the Belmont means something.

[Pirateer]

I hope they change their minds about the Preakness.
A Derby horse that is sound and willing should have his shot at the Preakness, WITH his winning jockey.

I'm still surprised at the sale- someone who was that interested in the best racing interests of their filly would sell her to THAT bunch who immediately will get her in with the boys.

Hope she'll last until her Curlin date. :(

[Glimmerglass]

Actually the title should be edited to say "She is being entered into the Preakness" vs. actually going there ;)

Nothing has changed with her connections actually gaining one of the 14 starting gates. The $100,000 fee isn't any different then the $600 fee paid by initial nominations last year. As of right now it appears to be possibly already oversubscribed with Rachel (regardless of her astonishing and commanding victory in the Oaks) not having a lot of leverage.

As for history with a Derby winning jockey leaving his mount for the Preakness while that horse is entered in the field - there is precedence (http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/lines-in-the-sand/05082009-the-filly-and-the-preakness/):

In all the years the Preakness has been run after the Derby, this will be only the fourth time that a Derby winner picks up a new jockey in the Preakness.

The last time was 1945, when Eddie Arcaro underwent an appendectomy after the Derby and Al Snider took over for Hoop Jr.'s second-place run at Pimlico.

In 1936, the Churchill Downs stewards were unhappy about Babe Hanford's rough but winning ride aboard Bold Venture, but they still didn't disqualify the colt. The stewards reportedly told Hanford that if he attempted to ride Bold Venture back in the Preakness, they would suspend him..

In 1933, Don Meade, aboard Brokers Tip, and Herb Fisher, riding Head Play, literally slugged it out in the stretch of the Derby. They tried to pull one another out of the saddle. Brokers Tip won by a nose, and afterward the stewards, unable to isolate culpability, suspended both riders. (See also Time Magazine May 22 1933 "Head Play v. Broker's Tip" (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,745577,00.html))

As for jocks to replace Calvin cited was Mike Smith and possibly a Pimlico expert like a Jeremy Rose.

[Iron Horse Farm]

Hope she'll last until her Curlin date. :(

Ohhh, please........I don't even want to think about that!:eek::no:

[findeight]

A bizarre, unprecedented turn of events, to be sure. Whoever heard of a Derby winner jumping off the Derby horse to ride a rival in the Preakness?? :eek:

Rachel will definitely go off as the favorite. I'm thinking something like 9/5.


Whoever heard of a jock getting the chance to choose between the Derby winner and a potential near even money favorite (without getting "fired" off the one and the other jock either getting "fired", suspended or breaking something he needs to ride)?. If they had more choices like that, you would, no doubt, see it more often.

Going to make what looked to be a ho hum race alot more interesting, we'll see if Cal was right or should have stayed where he was.

[Frog]

She goes, I go!! I've never been to the Preakness, and I'm only in Richmond!

Now if only I could find a way to visit the backside.

Hi Laurie... :D:D:D You like cookies?

[Laurierace]

The more the merrier, come on in! You can view my expansive one horse stable while you are there.

[iloverocky]

According to Calvin's mom-in-law:
The new owners are trying to get RA into the Belmont. If that happens, Calvin will be the rider.
In that case, he obviously will not be riding MTB and the owners have stated they don't want anyone else on MTB.
So my guess is MTB will not run?
Not sure how I feel about this, was really looking forward to Calvin going for the triple crown...dang it, there go our plans for a fundraiser opportunity!
Can anyone say HEARTBURN?

Also, Calvin will be on Jay Leno next Tuesday night.


MTB's connections already have backup riders lined up in case the filly makes the field and actually runs. They are waiting until the last minute to name a replacement rider in case the filly doesn't go and Borel is available.

[justalittlex]

So interesting that Chantal was the rider of MTB in Canada! (under publicized)

[farmgirl88]

i really strongly dislike the fact that this wonderful filly is now in the hands of that crew. in all honesty...will they ever do right by the poor horse, or is all about forking out the millions to get their name out there, yank the horse from its trainer who it won so much under, and then plow right through.

As much as i like rachel and all she has done, im rooting for MTB. he deserves it very much. much more than the jackson crew. Ill laugh if that little horse turns for home and blows right by her again. i would love to be there to laugh in jess jacksons face. now if it was rachel other's connections...i would be congratulating them. but for now, i hope MTB can go right ahead and blow right by her. come on little guy!

[vineyridge]

Personally, I'm delighted that the new owners offered the ride to Borel. Given his seeming unpopularity with the big money stables and trainers, I thought for sure they'd try and get one of the other big name jockeys for her run at the boys.

If you think that the Pimlico people will not move heaven and earth to get the filly in the Preakness, you've all been smoking something that creates hallucinations. :)

[LarryBird]

I agree with Viney Ridge. The Preakness people would be absolutely nuts not to do everything they can to get her in.

Laurie are you serious about that offer?

[Laurierace]

Sure. I can't promise you a tour of the stakes barn or anything like that but I can certainly get you on the back side. If you just want a tour Thursday or Friday would be better days as there aren't as many people, but if you want to come on Saturday we can fit you in somewhere. The only potential problem is sometimes cell service is non-existant on Preakness day due to the volume of calls. That can make meeting up somewhere hard to do. Keep trying.

[ivy62]

I always liked this filly and was hoping to see her run against the boys but I have a personal connection with Mine That Bird, (I know the Needhams) and was really hoping that after 30 years in the business one if their horses would do this well....I am sorry CB is not riding MTB he knows how to get the best out of him....
May the best horse win. Even if he comes in second to her I would hope they would still run in the Belmont...
I rooted for Rags to beat Curlin' but I do not know if I can root for RA to beat the little colt that could!
I would rather see the fillies, Zenyatta also, run in the BCC against the boys and leave the triple crown alone this year.....

[danceronice]

I would rather see the fillies, Zenyatta also, run in the BCC against the boys and leave the triple crown alone this year.....

IAWTC. I would rather they wait. Also I'd rather she run against colts at distance--Rags impressed me largely because of the length of the Belmont.

I will say though at least it does prove Borel's getting some of the respect he deserves!

[iloverocky]

I will say though at least it does prove Borel's getting some of the respect he deserves!


I am not certain it has to do with respect for Borel; I think it has much more to do with the fact that Jess Jackson is media obsessed and at this moment, Borel is in the limelight and very popular. Can you imagine how much more vitriol would be spewed in Jackson's direction if he not only replaced her wonderful old trainer, but arguably the most well known (and liked) by the general public jockey in the country?

[Kinsella]

I am now very heartily rooting for Mine That Bird. Borel should see through the media hound and stick with the trainer that liked him before he hit the limelight. Don't get me wrong, I adore Borel, but I don't like Jackson and truly hope MTB beats RA ands shows it wasn't a fluke. (but to be honest, I hope he doesn't win the TC... go figure!)

[caffeinated]

at the expense of what might be the greatest horse he's ever ridden?

I just can't fault Calvin here.... I do wish he could magically clone himself and ride both, but in his boots, I know which horse I'd choose :)

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Borel didn't just hit the limelight last Saturday, he has ridden a Derby winner before. He is a known commodity, hardly a new face. If anything Woolley owes more to Borel for the ride than Borel does for the mount. It's not as if Borel is beholden to him.
What is wrong with Borel doing the sensible thing and picking what he (and most people) think is the best horse? He also knows which side his bread is buttered, riding for Jackson/Asmussen reaps more benefits than for a guy that is something like 2 for 50 training out of Sunland.
It's a business decision, jockeys make these all the time. If you want to tie a jockey to a mount, then put him on a retainer.

[rcloisonne]

Borel didn't just hit the limelight last Saturday, he has ridden a Derby winner before. He is a known commodity, hardly a new face. If anything Woolley owes more to Borel for the ride than Borel does for the mount. It's not as if Borel is beholden to him.
What is wrong with Borel doing the sensible thing and picking what he (and most people) think is the best horse? He also knows which side his bread is buttered, riding for Jackson/Asmussen reaps more benefits than for a guy that is something like 2 for 50 training out of Sunland.
It's a business decision, jockeys make these all the time. If you want to tie a jockey to a mount, then put him on a retainer.
While everything you've written is absolutely true, I too feel saddened and very let down by Calvin's decision to go over to the "darkside". Nothing against RA but I won't be cheering for her either.

[ivy62]

Under normal circumstances I would be rooting for RA but I have personal ties to MTB...I too wish CB was on him but I cannot fault him for who he believes is the better horse...RA hasn't run with the boys yet and let's see what happens especially if it rains in Md...I know she can run on slop but the race may not be as clean....
As for MTB I hope he goes all the way as the under dog...That would be something nice. An unknown horse and trainer beating the best at their own game. That would be good for racing......
Also on a side note, some of the desicions this year not to race or compete because of injury or other have shown a softer side to racing that too is good for racing....

[HorseSoGreen]

While everything you've written is absolutely true, I too feel saddened and very let down by Calvin's decision to go over to the "darkside". Nothing against RA but I won't be cheering for her either.

With all due respect, I don't think it's going to the "darkside" to ride what is probably the best filly in our lifetimes against the colts. CB has always said that she was the best he's ridden. It's just logical to want to ride the best, and I support his decision 100% and I will be supporting this amazing filly 100%. And cheers to JJ for having the guts to let her prove her mettle against the boys.

[holmes]

I too am amazed at the decision - giving up a Derby winner is something else!!! I am sure it is just a business decision to him - maybe MTB will be a west coast horse after the TC?

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