Kentucky Derby Winner Arrives for Preakness minus his Jockey

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird arrived at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. for the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1) Tuesday evening with a police escort, but will be missing his rider on Saturday afternoon.

In an unprecedented move, jockey Calvin Borel opted not to ride the Derby winner so he could retain the mount on Rachel Alexandra, who won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and will take on the boys in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley drove his Ford F-450 Lariat all the way from Louisville to Baltimore with a broken foot.

Arriving on the backstretch at Pimlico with a police escort, Woolley joked, “I called a friend on the way and said it’s the first time I’ve had the police leading me instead of chasing me.”

Woolley will be starting his first runner in Maryland on Saturday, and said the Derby winner was “calm all the way; ate his feed, cleaned up good; drank all his water.”

Casual fans tuning into Saturday’s race may be confused to see a different jockey aboard the Derby winner.

Unless there is last minute drama at the draw on Wednesday, the connections of the Derby winner will name hall of fame rider Mike Smith to ride the gelding.

If Rachel Alexandra draws into the race as expected, it will be the first time since 1945 that the Derby winning jockey did not retain the mount for the Preakness.

Borel has stated all along he feels the filly is better than the Derby winner is, and looking at the speed figures, it is hard to argue the point.

Mine That Bird had a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 81 going into the Derby, and his victory produced his career best of 105.

Meanwhile, Rachel Alexandra earned a 108 Beyer for her win the Kentucky Oaks, which was run the day before the Derby. It was the filly’s fourth straight triple digit Beyer.

Some may think that Borel could be giving up a chance to win the Triple Crown, and of course, he is.

However, the filly appears to have more upside potential for the remainder of the year.

She could go back to race against overmatched fillies and mares, and likely rack up several more lucrative stakes wins, then would likely be the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic in November.

Mine That Bird does not look like he will stack up as well when he has to meet older runners later in the year, and unless we see him run back to his Derby effort in the Belmont Stakes, the gelding figures to be a longshot by the time the Breeders’ Cup Classic rolls around.

Could Borel be making the biggest mistake of his riding career?

It is possible, but Mine That Bird did get a dream trip along a golden rail, and no doubt, the gelding loved the off going.

The gelding also benefited from the defections of I Want Revenge and Quality Road, either one of those colts would have made Mine That Bird winning the Kentucky Derby a much taller task.

While it may seem to some that Borel made his decision based on his own self interests, there is no doubt that the Cajun jockey believes in his decision, and also believes he has the mount on very special filly.