2009 Belmont Stakes: Calvin Borel A Potential Triple Crown Jockey

calvin-borel The 2009 Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing may just be the most memorable since Affirmed beat out rival Alydar to take the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes 31 years ago. Since, no horse has won all three of these coveted races.

Big Brown came close last year, the ninth horse in three decades to win the first two races but fail miserably at the long and grueling Belmont. But as exciting as it was to have Triple Crown hopes last year, I think Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, and Calvin Borel are more likely to live on in the memories of race fans.

Two great horses may help this one great jockey to be the first human to win all the Triple Crown races, just with different horses.

Kentucky Derby Winner Calvin Borel Aboard Mine That Bird

43-year-old jockey Calvin Borel won the 2007 Kentucky Derby with Street Sense before capturing it in a come-from-behind victory with long-shot Mine That Bird this year. They started out trailing the field by nearly as many lengths as they as they ended up winning it. I don’t know that I’ve seen a more exciting race in my lifetime.

Mine That Bird’s late burst of speed was only helped by Borel’s exceptional navigational abilities as they weaved their way through the pack, finding holes to the front.

If by some chance you missed this year’s Kentucky Derby, watch it now:

Borel and Filly Rachel Alexandra Take 2009 Preakness Stakes

Calvin Borel showed good instincts and good horsemanship when he chose to ride the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness over Derby winner Mine That Bird. That decision paid off when he took Rachel Alexandra to the front of the pack and kept her there. He isn’t going to have a Triple Crown horse, but he very may well be a Triple Crown jockey anyway.

I could tell Rachel Alexandra was going to keep her lead in the Preakness early on in the race. As the boys dug in half way through, she was galloping along with her head up and her ears flapping in the wind like she was hardly trying. Only at the end did she dig in to fend off the once-again late effort by Mine That Bird. If the race had been just a bit longer, Mine That Bird very well may have taken it. But this one was Rachel and Borel’s. Not only did the filly beat out the boys, she did it from the very difficult outside post position, breaking fast and cutting in to to take lead a few horses out from the rail. Another very exciting race!

2009 Belmont Stakes

With Rachel Alexandra not running in the Belmont, Calvin Borel is back aboard Mine That Bird for the longer race that will play well to his late running style. If all goes well, Calvin Borel may just capture the Triple Crown himself. Either way, he is having quite a year with his wins in the Derby, Preakness, and the Kentucky Oaks.

It’s still a few days away, but here are how things stand.