How About a Calvin Crown?

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

hmb0725 — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:17:26 GMT

I'm rooting for Mine That Bird to win the Belmont. He has the pedigree (remember his dad??) and tactical speed to get it done - it's his race to lose. I hope RA gets a rest.. Her pedigree is not suited for the distance (especially a mile and a half!) and she's already beat the boys -- she can beat them later down the road. I'm not against the girls taking on the boys, I just think it would be in the best interest of RA.

As far as the rider for MTB, it would be so cool if Chantal got the mount.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

PomDeTerre — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:44:34 GMT

I agree wholeheartedly with those of you who feel that Chantal should be on MTB. She has won with him at Woodbine, she has the patience this gelding requires and it'd make a great story line....BoRail getting beat by a GIRL instead of riding one. Prado does not get my vote, tho he is certainly one of my favorites current jocks- he is on a bit of a bad riding streak. As for Talamo- he totally lacks the patience that MTB needs. Go Chantal!

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

BigMommaLovesHorses — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:39:44 GMT

Lecylue and everyone else negative about the jockey switches....maybe YOU should watch HRTV sometime. They have been talking all week about the jockey switch off the horses and its NOT Calvin who made the decision. Its his MANAGER!! They had a deal with the first owners Calvin would ride RA in all her races. Then along came MTB needing a rider and the owners and trainer asked Calvin as he had no ride for the Kentucky Derby and he said yes. He even said he did it because he had no horse and the owners and trainer of MTB were told at the very beginning Calvin was committed to RA. That it might only be a one time ride for him on MTB. So know your facts before you blame these jockeys for mount swapping. The same thing with Mike Smith. His agent has hm contracted to certain trainers. Stop blaming the jockeys for MTB being riderless right now. MTB and RA are both great horses and who ever is going to win is going to do so because they are good. It's not the jockey making them win. Of course whatever mount I see Calvin riding I will bet on even if its a long shot. I think he knows what he is doing but so does Mike Smith. Its just a shame Mike Smith is committed to another horse in another state the day of the Belmont.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

StardustyRose — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:38:09 GMT

Sharon

I believe that Calvin COULD have a triple crown had he not jumped ship on MTB. :)

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Sharon — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:55:05 GMT

Personally, I think Borel is staying where the money is, a constant source from connections with large stables. Shameful, that he turned down a Derby Winner! Then again, Mine That Bird's connections don't have tons of horses or money to keep Borel in rides, just my humble opinion.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

StardustyRose — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:40:59 GMT

Mine That Bird + Edgar Prado...

Perfect match.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

mary — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:26:54 GMT

I vote for Chantal. She got the job done with the 2 yr Canadian Ch. and she certainly has done nothing wrong on MTB. Once Calvin and Mike have taken off, I think it leaves the door wide open. I can appreciate Mike's honoring his commitment due to Zenyatta's connections. I'm sure he would have loved to be on MTB in the Belmont, I heard him say in the interview with Gary Stevens, that he believes with or without the filly MTB wins the Belmont.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Pedigree Shelly — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:09:19 GMT

I think Prado would be the best choice for MTB .He won with MTB's sire in the Belmont! I just dont think RA can get the distance! Speaking of Jockeys ,What ever happened to Javier Castellano ? He was great with Bernardini and others...

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

howard — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:07:10 GMT

mike smith had the best horse. why no comments about the poor decision he made at the preakness? the preakness is only a mile and a sixteenth. if he had sooner chose to go wide , he would have easily won. instead he found no room on the rail or inside. he was blocked. so you must go wide. after seeing he had no where to go , too late he went wide , yet as strong a horse as MINE THAT BIRD is , he only lost by a length. this is so sad , equally sad that there is no criticism. this is the reason that mike smith will not ride him in the belmont. MINE THAT BIRD , WILL PROVE TO BE HORSE OF THE YEAR!!!!!

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

vflippen@aol.com — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:17:34 GMT

Well I think MTB's connections need to find a rider for the horse , it is starting to seem like JJ is playing cat n mouse with the whole rider thing , he has every one where he wants them on the ropes and it craws me to read over and over what a great sportsman he is BUNK he will hold out to the last minute on weather RA runs or not hoping that Calvin would commit to MTB and then he will replace calvin with Robby A Which IMO he would have already done if Calvin wasnt a hometown hero and it would make him look like a bad guy for doing so !

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

gammyp6 — Sun, 24 May 2009 01:22:48 GMT

I hear you loud and clear Lecylue. I agree with you but I just don't know who would be the best for MTB. I like RA and I have a lot of respect for her connections but I want to see MTB get the Belmont. If I heard Asmussen correctly in an interview I thought he said that Borel approached them after the purchase of RA and hearing of a possible Preakness run asked to be back aboard. That initially ticked me off. It sounded as if the RA connections weren't exactly begging Calvin to ride her. Anyway I have calmed down. Can RA defeat Zenyatta? Not by the looks of todays Milady.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

sweet terchi — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:40:15 GMT

I also hope for Chantal. She has said that MTB is jockey friendly but it would be nice for the little guy to get a familiar rider. As for Talamo, remember he's young and still learning the ropes, remember 18 yr old Steve Cauthen? Brought home Affirmed for a TC when everybody said experience was needed.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

luv the boy — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:17:19 GMT

well you're right, Blue Hen. MTB does remind me of Seabiscuit, too.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

luv the boy — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:15:48 GMT

I want Edgar Prado to ride MTB. haven't heart much from him since Barbaro. he's a fine jockey and fine person. I feel MTB will win, no matter who rides him.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Eilise — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:11:49 GMT

I agree that dual Belmont winner Edgar Prado would be an excellent choice for MTB. As for Borel, he's never even ridden in the Belmont Stakes so no great loss there.

And before you Borel fans go ballistic over my opinion that he's a poor choice for the Belmont, ask yourself why at age 42 he's never been tapped to ride a horse in the Belmont Stakes.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Early Times Northern sipper — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:23:29 GMT

This years' Kentucky Derby was a highlight in my life. God Bless Mine That Bird and God Bless Calvin for his stellar riding ability. I felt sad for MTBird, seeing Calvin win on Rachael...and not with him...and to think he missed by only ONE LENGTH! I would be spirited to the Heavens to see Calvin Win the Belmont Stakes ON MINE THAT BIRD! God help them do it.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

rlassbuck — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:21:09 GMT

I'm with Bellwether!

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

BlueHen — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:08:01 GMT

I'm going to be rooting for MTB. If that means there will be no "Calvin crown," so be it. MTB is a great little horse. He kind of reminds me of Seabiscuit, a little "nobody" with guts. I hope eventually he will have a jockey who is committed to HIM.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Bellwether — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:32:16 GMT

let the MIG ride the LITTLE GUY THAT FLYS!!!...LONG LIVE THE GELDING!!!...

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Junie Wise,Rocky Road Farm — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:47:30 GMT

I will understand if Chip goes with another Jockey...Like he says:It is just buisness....How often will Calvin ride for him again???....Unless he gets a few more "Good" horses and comes back to kentucky...It is the same with Mike Smith...He has to stay with his California connections!!!!

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Richard — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:08:31 GMT

Sutherland is only 38 for 258 in what is supposed to be her star-turn year. Belmont is not Woodbine and she was quoted as saying she was "shocked" that MTB won the Derby. If she was a he, the name wouldn't even come up.

The Prado/Birdstone storyline is nice and he's a class guy as well as a Belmont winner. I think it may be GG, though he hasn't won a Belmont, because he would probably commit to next year.

It's pointless to run Rachel in the Belmont, but Jones and Asmussen have done pointless things before: like running Curlin in a second BC Classic -- I'm still scratching my head -- after a grueling campaign and in spite of everyone's desire to see him run in The Arc where even a loss on a right-handed turf course in Europe's biggest race would have only added to his legacy.

It's nice that The Belmont is turning out to be such an intriguing race in a non-Triple Crown year.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Wailaki — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:37:16 GMT

We've had a "Tiger Slam". I'm definitely rooting for a "Calvin Crown".

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

BigMommaLovesHorses — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:43:27 GMT

For Pete's sake...doesn't anyone watch HRTV? Every noon they run the lineup and they have been talking all week that jockeys commit to certain horses. And that is what happened with Mike Smith and Calvin. If Wolley wants a rider why not pick Chantel (Mike's girlfriend) who brought such good luck riding Mine That Bird to begin with. I think people should know that jockeys can not just jump off one horse for another as they have managers who set them up. The managers tell them what to do and HRTV reported it twice this week about Calvin and Mike both. Personally I think both horses are great and of course we won't have a triple crown this year, but don't blame the jockeys for skipping around on horses. Blame their managers.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Catbird — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:19:02 GMT

Heavens, where is all the animosity (esp. toward Calvin) coming from? The real issue here is that we are lucky enough to be in a season where there are two stars, MTB and Rachel.

Unfortunately for MTB, he came on the scene after many jockeys had committed, and being from New Mexico, his connections didn't have longterm relationships with many of the riders good enough to get on a Derby winner. If either of those two facts were different, the Bird wouldn't be shopping.

It is admirable that Mike has chosen to stick with his longtime supporters, and that Calvin feels so strongly about Rachel. None of that means any disrespect toward MTB. For one thing, assuming that Rachel doesn't run, they both realize they are probably giving up a win in a Triple Crown race---not easy for a jockey---and for another, they both know that there are many other riders out there who are ready, willing and able to do a fine job with the Bird.

In my opinion, both horses are great. We won't know FOR SURE who is best until both have had a chance to rest and to train up to a race. Remember that Rachel was never pointed toward the Preakness or the Belmont; she did fine in the Preakness, but for that reason, I hope she skips the Belmont. Between his pedigree and his training schedule, MTB has a distinct advantage. Let's level the playing field and send them out against each other later in the season. And in the meantime, let's enjoy that we have them both.

If Calvin is free, I hope gets back aboard MTB. He cried when he had to give up the mount. But if he's not free, there are several who could do the job. One of Mine That Bird's strong points is that he's a professional little horse, and he knows how to get around a race course.

The bottom line is that after two very difficult Triple Crown seasons, we have an embarrassment of riches here---great horses, great stories. Racing should take a moment to bask in the glow.

re: How About a Calvin Crown?

Cowgirl — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:18:57 GMT

This is a no-brainer - they should pick Chantal Sutherland - and they should have picked her to ride MTB in the Preakness as well!