Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Peakness Winner Rachel Alexandra Out of The Belmont Stakes; Jockey Calvin Borel To Ride Mine That Bird
Posted on Friday, May 29th, 2009
The Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra is out of the 141st running of the $1-million Belmont Stakes 2009 on Saturday, June 6, freeing jockey Calvin Borel to ride Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the 1 1/2-mile “Test of the Champion.”
“After careful consideration, we have decided not to run Rachel Alexandra in the Belmont Stakes next weekend,” Jess Jackson said in a statement issued late Friday afternoon on behalf of Rachel Alexandra’s co-owners, Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick. “We have advised Calvin Borel, (Mine That Bird’s trainer) Chip Woolley and Belmont of our decision. We thank them, the media, and the fans for their many courtesies and patience while we pondered.”
“We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes — we feel the same. But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her,” Jackson continued. “While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation. Since March 14, Rachel has won four graded races with just two weeks rest between her last two victories. We will always put her long-term well-being first. And, of course, we want to run her when she is fresh.”
While Jackson declined to specify a next start for the three-year-old filly, he did say that she would make a start at Belmont Park this season.
Jockey Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby at odds of 50-1 last May 2, took off the mount to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes May 16, in which Mine That Bird, under jockey Mike Smith, finished second.
With the filly Rachel Alexandra skipping the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, and jockey Mike Smith committed to ride in California next Saturday, jockey Calvin Borel will now ride the Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird as he tries to become the first jockey in history to win the Derby, Preakness and Belmont aboard different horses.
Although he had received calls from a number of jockeys expressing interest in riding Mine That Bird in the Belmont, Woolley said he wanted Borel to ride the gelding and was willing to wait until the last minute.
“Now that this decision is made, I am excited to come to New York and ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes,” said jockey Calvin Borel. “I would like to thank Chip Woolley, and (owners) Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach for being so gracious and allowing us to wait for this decision. We also thank Mr. Jackson for letting everyone know earlier than anticipated about the decision whether to run Rachel Alexandra.”
Mine That Bird currently is training at Churchill Downs, and is scheduled to breeze there on Monday, June 1, before flying to New York on Wednesday as he attempts to become the 12th horse in history to win the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes 2009. Thunder Gulch in 1995 was the last horse to win both horse races.
Lining up to challenge the Kentucky Derby winner are Belmont Stakes entries Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Miner’s Escape, Mr. Hot Stuff, Summer Bird and possibly Nowhere To Hide.
Horse racing news edited from www.nyra.com.
Tags: Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Mine That Bird, Miner's Escape, Mr. Hot Stuff, Nowhere to Hide, Rachel Alexandra, Summer Bird
"Peakness Winner Rachel Alexandra Out of The Belmont Stakes; Jockey Calvin Borel To Ride Mine That Bird" was posted on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 10:54 pm and is filed under Belmont Park, Belmont Stakes, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Jockeys, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, Triple Crown, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Saturday, May 30th, 2009 11:50 pm By carol erven
Sorry that Rachael isn’t running. That would have been a great race. Going to two Belmonts as a novice race enthusiastic and not seeing the triple crown twice, I was looking forward to this race.
I wish Calvin Borel the best of luck! Carol
Sunday, May 31st, 2009 6:00 pm By kathryn
So mad Rachel Alexandre is not racing !!!
Why deny the public this great race .
We will never have the chance to see a Triple Crown winner
if the owners take there horses out the races.
Now that their filly has a great record ,she is more valuable for breeding . What a shame and how sad.
Sunday, May 31st, 2009 7:15 pm By Dianne
Thank goodness Jackson didn’t wait any longer to make up his mind about the Belmont Stakes! Calvin Borel has time to reaquaint himself (bond) with MTB. He is a great jockey and I’m certain he will have a good ride on June, 6, 2009 at Belmont Park even though he has never raced a horse there; and what better horse to start with than MTB!! He had a “Magical” ride in the KY Derby and should repeat this in the Belmont Stakes….Best wishes to Calvin for another great win next Saturday!!