Borel off Bird for Rachel in Preakness
 

From Churchill minutes ago. Details to follow...
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30 hours later.. But confirmed:

Edited press release

Stonestreet Stables and partner Harold T. McCormick announced May 8 that Calvin Borel has agreed to ride Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra for the current racing season. Also, Stonestreet said it plans to run the filly in the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), contingent upon her continuing to train well up to the race.

In making the decision, Borel selected the filly over Mine That Bird, whom he rode to an upset victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and is being pointed toward the preakness.

“It came down to the facts that he knows and loves this horse, that he knows how to get the most from her and he knows how to win,’’ said Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables and proprietor of Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates. “They were an amazing team at the Kentucky Oaks—winning by over 20 lengths. We think this is a perfect match of rider and horse.’’

Jackson said Rachel Alexandra will continue her workout schedule under trainer Steve Asmussen. “If she continues to be in perfect condition, our intention will be to run her in the Preakness,” Jackson said, adding that the final decision would be made next week.

Somebody else asked in the other thread, is this the first time a jockey has done that?

steve i heard last night the Albarado was going to ride her , why do you think the connections of RA changed their mind?

Just glad they let Borel keep the mount.

Love those post-race interviews.

I am happy for Borel getting the RA mount. Do we know that Assmussen is definitely training her? If he is it is a good move for Calvin - increases his book. Maybe he could ride more for Assmussen (assuming he would want to). I feel bad for the Mine that Bird connections losing Borel, especially when they specifically sought him out.

I am overall disgusted with the sale to Jackson - I understand why, hey if someone offered me a boat load of cash, I'd check out, too, but to Jackson? It really does put a pall over her....

does the girl get to ride MTB again Steve ?

Well if Albarado gets the mount on MTB, you can forget about any more rail-skimming rides.

OMG that would be hilarious... but I'm sure he'll get a top jockey.

This is freaking awesome. I can even put up with ASSMAN as long as it means RA is taking on the boys now.. so cool.

Well we definately know who the favorite will be in the Preakness.

No-brainer fo Borel, IMO. As for the connections of MTB, I wouldnt doubt if they got one of their choice of the best available. Or who knows, maybe Ken Tohill or one of the Sunland regulars comes to ride?

MTB A jock for Pimilco, as long as it's not Mario Pino.

??????

In all honesty folks, Calvin Borel was and is a very ordinary rider right up until last weekend. Really this is not as big a deal as it will no doubt be reported.

thats what i was thinking, absoultely not a shocker

as for who's gonna ride the bird, i think fogelsonger is off suspension now, who cares

-bt-

i'd rather seen calvin stay on MTB. it's a better story, anyone can win on RA.

This is awesome stuff! So many storylines for the Preakness, a race that was looking to come up a dud.

I hope Chantal gets the mount on Bird so they can do an epsiode of "Jockeys" at Pimlico.

Are we all in agreement that Borel had a significant impact in Mine that Bird's Derby win? If so, this has to be a VERY big deal.

The question is, if she wins, will Sports Illustrated put her on the cover too

any updates? is she a lock to run in the Preakness?

You and West told the worlds this yesterday...

J D ACOSTA he does great at CT

Shane Laviolette is available

JD Acosta? What, no Gerald Almodovar?

Not for nothing, guys, but the way she jogged in the Oaks, I can't imagine she wouldn't be ready to come back for the Preakness.

This could be the single greatest mistake ever made by an owner, running back in 14 days off such a huge effort, even 5 weeks is a bit much. She might romp but this romp might cost her 3-4 starts in the future, unless the plan is no more after her 3 year old year

scav why wouldn't we see her next year?

That's not necessarily true. She's a run-off type in the morning with her exercise rider and fights him constantly. But she completely melts when Borel gets aboard and will do what he asks. Even with him last Monday for the work, when she had to wait a half hour, she was anxious to go and he couldn't stop her from those super sharp fractions and 1:10/1:23 gallop out. Putting a new rider on her would be risky, especially in light of the anticipated pace company she will have in Baltimore.

Ok, so explain to me how horses used to be able to run huge races with only a week or in some cases a few days in between?

Because horses that run huge efforts tend not to last. Look at IWR, he has a 8pt top, regressed 2 pts and is now pretty much has 3 hooves in the breeding shed....His type of injury is from RACING or over extension, which comes from huge huge efforts

I am not sure what the IWR connections could have done differently, maybe skip the Wood and take the 8 weeks or whatever it was, but that would have been majorly risky from a value and stud career perspective.

RA has won her race this year, why not give her 6-8 weeks to get over the effort and make a plan for her to get the BC.

Well.. we were speculating based on ther situation at the moment and anticipating the decisions of the parties involved. This more definitive report came through witnesses to the conversation about the commitment and a 'non-confirmation' confirmation from Borel agent Jerry Hissam who said it needs to be officially announced by the trainer or owner.

This is such a bunch of b.s. and why we have paper tiger Champions.

Puts more of a pall on the back story of the horse, not really the horse itself, she doesn't know any better. But, I understand where you're coming from, it makes harder to root for the horse because the connections (for the most part) suck at life.

Things got mighty interesting in the racing world the last 48 hrs.

did the same connections give us what we wanted with Curlin ? he ran as a 4yr old , why wouldn't they run her at 4?

:tro:

No it isn't but I am not going to get into the statistics, maybe 1 out of 20 go against the data that shows huge jump up efforts hurt horses, especially YOUNG ones < 4 years of age

they still can , but the $ involved in the breedding games discourages this

back then i assume purse $ was more important for some of these owners

there s/b no reason why trainers can't get today's horses to run as much as horses from the past you are right

Was that a huge jump up effort or was the competition in that race that weak considering the scratches? I'm just saying, the horse was barely blowing after the race; I don't see why she couldn't run again against better competition off two weeks and a day rest.

There was never a shot he wasn't going to ride her and you knew it and wisely advised the listeners. Borel knows which horse is better...One is a Ferrari the other is Camaro.. As for Borel's horse whisper ways with Rachel, you may want to take that with a small grain of salt, I am sure any top flight jock would be fine and I am sure he loves riding her who wouldn't..

The purse money was crap.

It was about sport and good horsemanship...not statistics and money.

What??? They're running RA in the Preakness? Do they not understand that these races are showcases for the stallions of tomorrow? That colts should stay with colts and fillies with fillies and never the twain shall meet because it's just unnatural and offensive to the fillies' delicate sensibilities, letting them get bumped around by a bunch of big colty colt males?? You might as well just dress them in a miniskirt and high heels and stick them in a dark alley. (Though not with Mine That Bird; he can't take advantage of the situation and therefore should be scratched anyway.)

Harumph. Next thing you know they're going to let women vote and then you'll really see things go to hell in a handbasket. And you kids, get off my lawn.