Jockey Calvin Borel Looks for Fourth Derby Victory to Join Elite Group
Calvin Borel, the immensely popular Midwestern-based jockey, crashed the Kentucky Derby history books when from 2007–2010 he became the only jockey to ever win the American classic three times in a four-year span. At the 2012 Kentucky Derby, Borel is scheduled to ride Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy, who with a win would make Borel only the fourth jockey to have won at least four Kentucky Derbys.
Borel had toiled for years on the Midwestern circuit before finally bursting onto the national scene in 2007. That was the year he piloted Street Sense, the previous year’s 2-year-old champion, to victory in the Kentucky Derby. Street Sense’s win was particularly notable, and further enhanced Borel’s legacy, because with it he became the only horse to ever win both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby.
Things would be drastically different for Borel in 2008. Rather than riding a champion like Street Sense, that year Borel had the call to ride Mine That Bird, a lightly-regarded gelding from the minor racing state of New Mexico.
However, thanks largely to one of Borel’s patented rail-skimming rides, Mine That Bird managed to rally from last and pull off one of the most shocking upsets ever in the Kentucky Derby. In fact, Borel and Mine That Bird paid a whopping $103.20 for a $2 bet, making it the second-biggest upset in the 137-year history of the Kentucky Derby.
The fearless ride down along the rail was a classic from Borel, or as he is also known, Calvin “Bo-Rail.”
Lightning struck again for Borel two years later with Super Saver. By this time, Borel had already become a bit of a cult hero among Derby fans. Super Saver was a lightly-raced colt from the powerful Todd Pletcher barn who was exiting a decent second-place finish in the Arkansas Derby. While certainly a horse that seemed to be improving, Super Saver garnered even more support at the betting windows largely because of the presence of Borel in the irons. The native of Louisiana didn’t disappoint his backers as he patiently guided Super Saver to an easy 2 1/2-length victory.
Borel figures to have a good shot at win No. 4 in the 2012 Kentucky Derby with Take Charge Indy. The regally-bred son of A.P. Indy out of champion Take Charge Lady had been relegated to the fringes of the Kentucky Derby picture this winter, but a sharp front-running victory against a strong field in the Florida Derby moved him straight to the upper echelon of contenders.
If Borel were to win, he would join legendary jockeys Eddie Arcaro, Bill Hartack and Bill Shoemaker as the only riders with more than three Kentucky Derby wins. Arcaro and Hartack each won five Kentucky Derby during the middle of the 20th century and Shoemaker won four Kentucky Derbys.
Arcaro’s five Kentucky Derby wins came with Lawrin (1938), Whirlaway (1941), Hoop Jr. (1945), Citation (1948) and Hill Grail (1952). Hartack won his Kentucky Derby’s with Iron Leige (1957), Venetian Way (1960), Decidedly (1962), Northern Dancer (1964) and Majestic Prince (1969).
Shoemaker’s four Kentucky Derby wins came with Swaps (1955), Tommy Lee (1959), Lucky Debonair (1965) and Ferdinand (1986).
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