Calvin Borel to ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont

NEW YORK — And on Belmont Stakes day, the filly will rest.

The latest episode of “How The Triple Crown Turns” resolved some major issues with the announcement that leading lady Rachel Alexandra will not run in the Belmont next Saturday.

“While she is in great shape … we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation,” the Preakness-winning filly’s co-owner Jess Jackson said a statement issued late Friday afternoon, about the same time most TV soaps had signed off with viewers wondering what new twists await next week.

In the Triple Crown’s final installment, it is this: Leading man Calvin Borel will get back on Mine That Bird with a chance to become the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and the Belmont on different horses.

Borel won the Derby aboard Mine That Bird at 50-1 odds, then jilted him for Rachel and beat the Derby winner in the Preakness by a length. Since Borel has ridden the filly to six straight wins, he said he’d be loyal if she ran in the Belmont. But now he’s free for Mine That Bird and ready to compete in his first Belmont with history riding on the outcome.

Mine That Bird, meanwhile, will attempt to become the 12th horse to complete the Derby-Belmont double and first since Thunder Gulch in 1995.

“Now that this decision is made, I am excited to come to New York and ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes,” Borel said, thanking the gelding’s trainer Chip Woolley and co-owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach for their patience before naming a rider.

Courtesy of ESPN.com

With Mine That Bird’s propensity to finish races strong, he will be the odds-on favorite to win the mile-and-a-half long Belmont Stakes.  The loss of Rachel Alexandra does reduce the drama of the race, but it will still be interesting to see if Calvin Borel can become the first jockey in history to win all three legs of the Triple Crown, with two different horses.

The biggest question now is, will Mine That Bird be pissed off at Borel for ditching him for Rachel Alexandra?  Or will he be pumped to have his boy back in the saddle? 

Post time is set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and coverage will begin on ABC at 5:00 p.m.