Is Borel shut out of the Derby?
 

Looking at the likely top 20 there does not seem to be a mount for Borel. Only Stay Thirsty seems to need a jockey and that is only if Ramon Dominguez lost the mount and Velasquez would get it if Uncle Mo can't go.

Ironically Castellano may have taken his last shot getting the mount over Borel on Silver Medallion this weekend.

There's going to be some shakeups.

Maybe it's just me, but Calvin doesn't seem to be riding nearly as many rail-skimming trips as he has in the past. Of course it could be that the rest of the jockey colony at Oaklawn kept him from getting there.

Wow, a guy who is supposedly worthy of being placed on a Hall of Fame ballot, who has won 3 Derbies, is the supposed King of the Derby is having trouble getting a mount? I thought he was such a great jockey, you would think that trainers would be fighting over him. :rolleyes:

I really hope he gets a mount so all the "I bet Borel in the Derby regardless of what horse he is on" idiots depress the price of what likely will be a hopeless horse in the Derby.

His agent is supposedly contacting Coolmore because he is interested in riding Master of Hounds. That will now make him a GIGANTIC underlay.

No offense to Calvin, because he obviously rode superbly and moved Mine that bird and Denis of Cork way, way up on those days.

But with Street Sense, he was not only on the best horse that day (apologies to Curlin), but he got about as lucky as you could possibly get with the way the holes opened up for him when the real running started.

Maybe he'll revert back to his old self at Churchill, but I would rather have several other jocks on my horse than him, judging by the way he's been riding lately.

I think he single-handily cost Elite Alex any chance to win in the Southwest and Louisiana Derby, and I shook my head other times watching him during the Oaklawn meet, as well.

I agree he looked a bit off at Oaklawn and he got a bit lucky with Super Saver also, but to think that he's not going to get a mount for this year's Derby seems crazy to me. If he doesn't have a mount by Derby week, some jockey is going to be really disappointed when he gets taken off in favor of Calvin...

I'm as big a critic of Borel as there is, but in fairness to him, recall that he is still working his way back from very severe injuries in that Jackpot incident. It takes jocks a minimum of 6 months to get back into shape and groove after a lay-up like he had.

On a couple of other fronts brought up here, he of course has no business being placed on the HOF ballot considering a guy like Rich Migliore hasn't been on it and has maybe 4 times the graded stake wins that Borel has. And I'm curious why not one person writing about the HOF topic has brought up the well-known reputation Borel has as a machine rider? Or is that going to be conveniently avoided since he's won 3 Derbys?

Regarding the Street Sense Derby and any Derby for that matter, the inside can be an ideal place to be as horses 'get out' and off the rail as they tire. It wasn't magical that the path seemed to clear for Street Sense as he rallied. It's predictable. And I wouldn't pay respects to Curlin in acknowledging Street Sense that day. I'd pay them to Hard Spun who ran an unbelievable race.

I'm not sure I understand what this means... I can make a guess, but I'd rather know for sure.

I'm still holding a grudge for how Calvin rode Sumwon at Saratoga....:mad:

A machine is also called a battery....to shock the horse into going faster at some point in the race.
I have been watching Borel since about 1981, Delta and Evangeline Downs, and i never heard anything about him employing those tactics. I know MANY people who are friends of his, and more than likely i would have heard soemthing to that effect over the years.

I wouldn't mind seeing Calvin on Master of Hounds although MOH's running style would probably have him close to the lead. Also, since I may use the horse in exotics, I'd rather see a lesser known jock to make the odds worth the gamble.

Exactly. And I only bet Hard Spun to win like an idiot.

Here's a good trivia question for you. What was the last dirt race Aidan O'Brien won?

Back to the original, there is no way he won't have a mount. None.

I can't think of one since J-Burg.

Johan?

you may be right.

His turf/ synth starters outnumber his dirt starters 10:1

http://www.horseracingnation.com/person/Aidan_P_Obrien

Yep. He's 0-13 in Breeders' Cup dirt races going back to the 2001 BC Juvenile. Toss in a Jockey Club Gold Cup loss by Dylan Thomas at the hands of Bernardini in 2006 and an up the track finish by Steinbeck in last year's Jim Dandy.

His record in America overall is hardly strong considering he's basically whiffed the BC for the last half-decade save Man of Iron's Marathon win in 2009.

Well, maybe he's due (lol)....seriously though, I don't see a win bet but he could figure in exotics. A single 3yo prep is the main negative factor for me, and (of course) can he handle dirt??? Positives....classy sort and will face a largely pathetic field imo.

I hope he doesn't get stuck on a horse like JP's Gusto.