Calvin Borel Wins Twice on Kentucky Oaks Day
Rachel Alexandra Wows in Main Event, Miss Isella Uses Rail
May 5, 2009
Rachel Alexandra, the gung-ho filly many thought might belong in the Kentucky Derby, didn't need a rail ride from jockey Calvin Borel to reach the winner's circle on $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) day at Churchill Downs May 1.
No Stopping Rachel Alexandra
Taking over the lead at the 1/4 pole, Rachel zoomed on, obliterating the six other entrants in front of the fourth largest audience in Oaks history. The brilliant three-year-old's final margin of victory was 20-1/4 lengths, obviously a new record. (Justwhistledixie was a scratch.)
The dark bay filly with the remarkable black patch that splashes across the top of her white blaze "is something else" (reigning eclipse award jockey Garrett Gomez) by all jockey and trainer accounts. Borel describes the filly as the greatest horse he's ever been on.
"...she's like 'Bring it on, let's go!'" Borel said after the Oaks, the day's 1-1/8 miles event run by the winner in 1:48.87.
Rachel's breeder and co-owner, Dolphus Morrison, insisted he had never considered running his talented filly in this year's Kentucky Derby against the colts. He views the Triple Crown races as contests designed to give public view to Thoroughbred racing's future stallions.
Morrison told the Oaks day crowd of 104,867 "...fillies should run with fillies and stallions with stallions."
Borel Also Wins on Miss Isella in Louisville Stakes
Last year's Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic winner and Older Female champion Zenyatta was scratched from the Oaks day $350,000 Louisville Stakes (G2) because of the muddy rated track. The absence of the probable race favorite left the 1-1/16 miles for older fillies and mares to Swift Temper as the favorite, with Miss Isella a close second favorite.
Late in the contest, the two of them fought each other through the stretch, but Miss Isella, with Borel in her saddle, got the slight edge along the rail and came home a winner by 3/4 of a length in 1:42.75. Borel captured his fifth Louisville Stakes, a jockey record for wins in that stakes.
Miss Isella races for Domino Stud of Lexington, LLC.
Other Kentucky Oaks Day Race Winners
The $100,000 Edgewood Stakes for three-year-old fillies at 1-1/16 miles --- (1) Laragh by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:43.88 --- jockey, Edgar Prado --- trainer, John Terranova --- (2) Magical Affair, by 3-1/4 --- (3) Banker's Choice.
The $150,000 Alysheba Stakes (G3) for older horses at 1-1/16 miles --- (1) Bullsbay by 1/4 length in 1:44.29 --- Jeremy Rose --- H. Graham Motion and assistant Alice Clapham --- (2) Cool Coal Man by 1 --- (3) Star Guitar.
The $150,000 American Turf Stakes for three-year-olds at 1-1/16 miles on turf --- (1) Orthodox by 3/4 length in 1:44.37 --- Jon Court --- John Glenney --- (2) Battle of Hastings by 1-3/4 lengths --- (3) Turfiste.
