Derby Recap: Super Stars

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

jim — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:11:18 GMT

thanks El Kabong

at least we know now why no one wants the rail in the KY derby, its not because of a big field, almost in all other countries there are big fields in almost every race, good chance for bettors to make something, this is where racing U.S. is failing, why would someone spend the whole day to win $20 exactas or $30 trifectas. If the size of the field picks up for sure will be a great boost to racing, maybe get rid of many of the small tracks then no one can say there is a shortage of horses. Its not shoutage of horses but too many tracks.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

mickey101 — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:08:40 GMT

here's a trait that calvin has that only a handfull of jockey's has in the u.s. or even the world ....his instincts/reflexes are much faster than fellow riders he see's holes before they open, there fore his mounts are always moving forward and never stopped.....he has prize fighter reflexes...and that ain't bad at his age.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

mickey101 — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:49:21 GMT

here's my reasoning ....gomez is a white collar jockey, alway's concerned about riding 7,8,9,10 years down the road, why risk injury....calvin,well he's blue collar 100% if the 8th at churchill is his last race ,he walks away with his head held high.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

mickey101 — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:32:32 GMT

the preakness is starting to look like the bank vault door, was left open for the taking....LOL

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

mickey101 — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:29:13 GMT

let's turn the table and put calvin on lal and gomez on ss, my guess is lal would have finished first or second and ss would not have won.....why you ask watch the replay of the santa anita derby, at the top of the stretch, there's a hole big enough to drive a mac truck through...gomez,pull's out....some jockey's think about racing another day , some have heart and big bxxxs, and give 100% every race....some might argue that calvin has a death wish, I believe , it's alittle of both heart and bxxxs, and deserves everything he has earned.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

moodygirl — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:08:25 GMT

Mr. Haskin, Here is an edited comment on one I subitted earlier.

I found some great information on Calvin Borel's whip. It's a humane whip and is by law the only one allowed in KY, SD, and IN, and voluntarily used by tracks in CA and Saratoga. Calvin has used it for 2 yrs.

It has a larger popper which is padded, filled with foam. It's just noise, no pain or welts. I wish they would publisize this more so Calvin's use of the whip would not be so misunderstood.

sports.espn.go.com/sports

news/story?id=4671332

www.jockeyguild.com/news

2009/11/givingsaferwhipsacrack.html

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Slew — Fri, 07 May 2010 12:27:22 GMT

Annette, I find you extremely chauvinistic in your attitude in what you consider may be male or female territory. Perhaps it's Calvin's open emotions that have endeared him to fans. So he cried???? What of it? He's an emotional person(which may be why horses relate to him), he's from S. Louisiana, and he's Cajun, and it's all a part of the culture. I love him for it. He's been riding for a very long time, and it's only in the past 5 years that he has become such a folksy hero. Maybe he simply appreciates the opportunities and rewards that have finally come to him. As for his rail-skimming rides...what the jockeys actually said was that they know he'll head to the rail, but they haven't found a way to stop him. He spots the openings. Calvin has made an art of the rail skimming rides. No one else can do it as well. (though some will try but fail miserably). It must be why they call him Bo-rail. He also knows when the rail is dead, and he knows enough to take a different lane when it's called for. Just watch his OP races. And finally, Calvin is the type of jockey who will win a Kentucky Derby one day, and muck out a stall the next...he's that kind of hard working person....and he loves those horses. So don't savage him over tearful

gratitude. If you don't want to see his emotions...turn off the TV.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

El Kabong — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:31:59 GMT

Jim

We're on the same page. sorry for the confussion, but yes, I agree. As I mentioned in that program with Bailey, the 1 & 2 hole have an inherent issue with the rail from the get go. They can't come out and run straight. It is a problem, no doubt. Don't know why it's accepted but it is.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

jim — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:43:06 GMT

EL Kabong

you missed the whole point i was trying to make. All i am pointing out is from the starting sate to the point which is called at the top of the stretch.Imagine you deaw a straight line from the #1 slot to the point @ the top of the stretch, & if the #1 horse runs dead straight will it runinto the rail. And why is it they dont use moveable rails from the start to the point @ the top of the stretch at avoid this problem.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Zookeeper — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:32:55 GMT

Annette,

How long has Borel done that at CD without this tragedy ever happening? A meteor could also fall on my head at any time now, although it has not happened in the 66 years of my stay on earth. Who's to say it won't? Maybe I should build a bunker! :)

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

vikingblood22 — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:12:22 GMT

Gary Lynn, thanks for the laugh. Great recap, I anxiously awaited it and you did not fail to write another great one. I had my money on Ice Box and will again if he is in the Belmont. I think he "could Have" "should have" won the Derby. He almost did. However, when there is a field that large, one must bet on the jockey, in my opinion, and BoRail is the best!

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Annette — Thu, 06 May 2010 22:40:00 GMT

Zoo Keeper, Port Stanley;

We know that Calvin rides the rail, closer than close. Some could say dangerously close. What are the chances that one day Calvin gets a mount that "freaks" at the rail, and desides to take a flying leap (God forbid)? What could be said, especially if it ended up being a tragedy? Would he still be the great Calvin Borel? I hope and pray it never happens. But who's to say it won't?

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Zookeeper — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:59:08 GMT

Port Stanley,

You're right, he didn't give up. I feel that both horse and jockey did very well to come in 6th after everything went as badly as it did. The chart says that they were 18th at the 3/4 mile mark. Baffert said that Gomez should have pulled him up. I'm sure he didn't really mean that and I'm glad Gomez didn't have the same reaction.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

EL Kabong — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:54:57 GMT

Jim,

The show I saw wasn't this year, it was back a few years ago. 1&2 cannot break out and go straight. They must move over or drop back. Ice Box dropped back immediately. Lucky broke fine with IB back there was room for him to drift out but Noble was dropping in a bit and they bumped a little. SS ran past them both then took the rail. Noble then moved out into the 2 path and did not draft SS. Lucky had the rail behind SS but was now 3 lenths behind. That left an opening behind SS that too big. That's when the clown show began. Paddy drove Vic S over into Lucky in an effort to get to that rail, and it was over.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Port Stanley — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:19:05 GMT

Annette - one of the reasons that the other jockeys can't stop Calvin from getting the rail is because he rides closer to the rail then they do. They may think that they have the rail, but there's still a Calvin path. Plus, the jockey that said that was Robby Albarado and he was riding Dean's Kitten. No offense to anyone, but he didn't have the horse to stop Calvin in the Derby.

Zookeeper - regarding whether or not Gomez is the best fit for Lookin At Lucky, I can't really say. But, he did get him to finish 6th, many jockeys would have given up after that start.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

jim — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:12:39 GMT

Annette

you are right, when the whole world knows Calvin would be going to the rail no one attempted to block the rail nor even box him before he started to make a move.

Zookeeper

yes a horse gets intimated after incidents LAL had gone thru(thanks to what Espinoza GRR did to him intentionally) & also especially after a fall.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Zookeeper — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:02:21 GMT

El Kabong,

You're so right! Bob Baffert is the one to evaluate the situation and take the proper decision. What the heck was I thinking? Sometimes, I get carried away and think that somehow I can solve things that are really not mine to solve. Thank you for bringing me back to earth! I needed that! :)

If Lucky goes in the Preakness, let's all hope he doesn't draw the rail! lol!

P.S. I did enjoy the irony of Hard Spun/Pino--Hard Spun/Gomez--Hard Spun/Pino.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

jim — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:00:52 GMT

EL Kabong the horse you are talking about is #2 Ice Box.Both he & LAL if were running straight I mean straight out of the gate would have run into the rail, thats where the problem started but a few yards later Super Saver took over the rail. I'm sure those bumps took something out of LAL and he didnot have enough to quickly do what garrett was talking about. Its normal racing that horses breaking from the rail to break inside and ones breaking from the outside break out thats what Jerry Bailey was talking about. Look at the replay and tell me if both #1&#2 horses if they even broke straight would not run into the rail.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

EasyGoerFan — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:56:49 GMT

If Mr. JJ takes Calvin off Rachel, I'm going to track Mr. JJ down and sing the theme song from The Grinch to him.

Stink, Stank, Stunk!!

Maybe I'll sip a glass of Kendall-Jackson wine while doing it.

HRTV reran the Across the Board episode with Calvin which was taped in March. Every word he said was so sincere. He has so much love for the people in his life who stand by him and support him. It's so nice to hear.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

T. A. Yamada — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:51:48 GMT

Steve Haskin -

After Super Saver's two prep races in 2010, I lost confidence in the horse's chances to win Kentucky Derby 136.

However, the important pieces of the puzzle fell into place for Super Saver in the last seven days leading up to the Derby.

First, there were the unfortunate casulties/defections. Then, post positions were drawn. Favorable for some and not so lucky for others. Next, on the morning of race day, the skies opened up and the rains came. The Churchill Downs main track looked like Mississippi mud. Super Saver had no tractions problems on this slick surface.

Finally, incredibly, the son of Maria's Mon changed running tactics, settling well of the quick, early pace, and drawing clear through much of the home stretch.

Super Saver has now posted a two-for-two lifetime record at CD.

If the connections don't overrace the colt this summer, he can become a serious factor in October for Breeder's Cup XXVII.

T.A. Yamada

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Zookeeper — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:05:07 GMT

Port Stanley,

No, it's not inconceivable. I just haven't seen too many jockeys write a blog about it. They usually concentrate on putting the blame on the other horses, not the one they were riding. lol!

Garrett Gomez is an excellent jockey and before the race I commented that Lucky's post position was the worst I could imagine. I wasn't bent on blaming Gomez, I'm trying to make sense of what happened and to learn from it. God knows that the multiple problems that Lucky has encountered (especially in the SA Derby) could have made him fearful of the rail.

Is it your opinion that Gomez is the best fit for that horse at this time? I would really like to read your thoughts on that.

El Kabong,

Thank you for answering me. I like Lucky a lot and I hope you're right about his future. :)

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Gary Lynn — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:55:12 GMT

Wonder if Bo's Lisa speaks from personal experience...

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Annette — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:43:32 GMT

Thanks for the great article Steve. I have a feeling that had Calvin Borel rode ZIPPY CHIPPY, in the Kentucky Derby, he would have won. Calvin is talented, and he knows Churchill. My question is this; If the other jocks KNOW that Calvin will hug the rail, why dont they do more to stop Calvin, or a least beat him to it. In an interview I saw after the race, one of the jocks acted as tho it was a pre gone conclusion that Calvin would win because of his style. My reaction was: "But dont YOU want to win"? Seriously, what if any advice would there be to give to the other jocks, going up against Calvin? Also, I admire Calvins good hearted nature, but does he have to bawl? To shed a few happy tears is ok, but he bawls like a baby, and as a woman (who cant stand to see a man cry)I feel embarrassed for him. (sorry) :)

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

EL Kabong — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:38:07 GMT

Zoo

Here's some irony you'll enjoy. A few years back, the connections of Hard Spun felt that maybe it was Pino's fault that Hard Spun wasn't winning, so the change was made in the Belmont to........Gomez. Results, not good. Point being not that Gomez is a bad rider, but that Jocks get the finger quite a bit, especially on these high priced 3 year olds who have not established firm behavior. So, back to Pino they went with small apology to all. Pino new Hard Spun better than Gomez and the reverse I'm sure. These animals can develop a trust with certain Jockeys. Bafferts the only one who can detemine whether or not he thinks Lucky doesn't trust Gomez, but it may take a race or two for anyone to ride him successfully. He's been pinned on the rail twice now. He's definitely going to be rail shy for sure.

re: Derby Recap: Super Stars

Port Stanley — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:17:13 GMT

Zookeeper - is it inconceivable that the horse may be at least partially to blame? We are always quick to blame the jockey. If the horse doesn't want to go inside and he's in the one hole, what's he supposed to do?