Calvin Borel......the jock for the race!

With the Kentucky Derby one week away, it took until just a few days ago for one of the leading Kentucky Derby heroes from the past five years to get a mount for the big race. In less than five years, this jockey has graced the winner’s circle under the twin spheres three times. He won with a two year old champion in 2007 (Street Sense) something that hadn’t been done in over 25 years. He came back two years later with an impossible longshot that shock the racing world (Mine That Bird). Last he benefited from a sloppy track and had one of the best trainers in racing to win his third blanket of roses (Super Saver). He is now a household name and one of the finalists for the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame. His name is; Calvin Borel and his Kentucky Derby lore make him one of the top jockeys in the sport. The question I ask is; is Calvin that good of a jockey or just very lucky in the sports biggest race?

Calvin has been a fixture in thoroughbred racing for years and won his share of stake races. But, his national success has come on the “big” stage. There’s no taking away from that success in what some say as the biggest event in thoroughbred racing. These three Kentucky Derby victories do a lot for public attention. But, in the grand body of work; is Calvin Borel just an average jockey and is he really worthy to be finalists for the Hall of Fame? When Calvin has been to Saratoga is recent years since his Derby success, he’s been little more than an average jockey. The year he won his first Kentucky Derby , he rode at Saratoga and had the mount on our own stables; Sumwonlovesyou. Now grant it, she wasn’t a stakes caliber horse. But, his ride on her wasn’t a “stakes” caliber trip either. He struggled at the Spa with his mounts and even though he’s been the “King of the Derby ” in recent years, he’s little more than an average jockey outside that race.

With the voting system that the National Museum of Thoroughbred Racing has, when you see the name; Calvin Borel on the ballot first time, will the voters chose him off his “body of work” or his three Kentucky Derby victories in four years? I see Calvin as a Peyton Manning in reverse. What I mean by this is, with Manning; he was a superior regular season quarterback with great numbers. But, during playoff time, Peyton only garnered one Super Bowl victory. In Calvin’s case, he has had a journeyman like career as a jockey outside the Kentucky Derby . Nothing really spectacular in number of victories, but when the spotlight is on in the “biggest race”, Calvin shines brightly.

This year, he’ll be on another “Mine That Bird” like runner. Twice the Appeal broke his maiden in a 30k claimer and now is entered into the Kentucky Derby . On paper, this horse should be between 30-1 and 50-1. But, now with Calvin aboard and his Kentucky Derby success rate, Twice the Appeal will be around 20-1 or less. A bad bet in my opinion; but then again, Mine That Bird wasn’t than appealing either and he won at longshot odds. It’s likely that if Calvin wins his four Kentucky Derby this year, he’ll be a “shoe in” for the Hall of Fame first time on the ballot. But, there are other jockeys with a better “full resume” of work more deserving that Calvin this year. I’m not knocking Calvin Borel, but if you take away his three Kentucky Derby victories. Everybody would be saying; Calvin “who”? Big race jockey, run of the mill the rest of the time. Calvin may have to wait his turn to be enshrined.