BALTIMORE (AP) – A year ago, Calvin Borel jumped from the Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird onto Rachel Alexandra and won the Preakness.
This month, after winning his third Derby in four years, the standout jockey decided to stay aboard Super Saver for the Preakness and take a shot at capturing the Triple Crown.
The one similarity is that Borel entered the 2009 Preakness and Saturday’s 135th edition certain his ride would end in the winner’s circle. Heck, he predicted a Triple Crown for Super Saver two weeks ago and won’t back down from that assessment.
“I’m always confident in my horse,” Borel said. “I maybe say things that I shouldn’t – that I’m going to win it. I don’t know if people understand, but if you’re going to ride, why don’t you want to win it? C’mon. That’s me. I’m coming here to win the race.”
A victory by Super Saver would put the colt one win away from becoming the first since Affirmed in 1978 to seize the Triple Crown.