Calvin Borel's 2011 Kentucky Derby Mount: Twice the Appeal

At long last, Calvin Borel -- winner of the Kentucky Derby in 2007, 2009, and 2010 -- has secured a mount for the 2011 edition of the Run for the Roses.

As I wrote in a previous post, Calvin Borel and his agent have been searching for a Derby mount for well over a week now. Borel was committed to ride Elite Alex on the first Saturday in May -- granted the colt secured the necassary graded earnings to make the race. Unfortunately, a ninth-place finish in the April 16th Arkansas Derby left Elite Alex with only $65,000 in graded cash, not nearly enough to get into the Derby.

And thus Calvin's search for a new mount began. As mentioned in my previous post, mount possibilities as of April 18th consisted mainly of Nehro, Comma to the Top, and J P's Gusto, with Animal Kingdom, Brethren, Jaycito, Santiva, and Silver Medallion as potentially available horses. Since then, J P's Gusto, Brethren, Jaycito, and Silver Medallion have all dropped out of Derby consideration. Nehro, Comma to the Top, and Santiva have all secured other riders, and Animal Kingdom is expected to be ridden by Robby Albarado. Thus, it appeared as though all of Borel's options were exhausted; that the famous rider could be left without a mount in the race that made him famous.

Then the possibility of riding Master of Hounds arose. The European hopeful was without a rider, and Borel loomed a serious possibility. At about the same time, Calvin Borel was asked to work Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner Stay Thirsty during a workout. Suddenly, Borel had a couple of potential mounts.

However, it was then announced that Todd Pletcher, trainer of Stay Thirsty, had secured Eclipse award-winning jockey Ramon Dominguez to ride Stay Thirsty in the Kentucky Derby.

This was the situation up until today -- with Master of Hounds as Borel's final potential Derby mount. Then -- without warning -- Borel had a Derby mount.

It was announced today by Borel's agent, Jerry Hissam, that Borel would ride Sunland Derby (gr. III) winner Twice the Appeal in the Kentucky Derby. It came as somewhat of a surprise to me, for I figured that Christian Santiago Reyes, who rode the colt to a 25-1 upset in the Sunland Derby, would retain the mount in the Run for the Roses. But that is not the case.

The Sunland Derby is held at Sunland Park in New Mexico -- not the usual route that Derby horses take to Louisville. It was never even considered a prep for the Kentucky Derby until Mine That Bird used it as his final race prior to upsetting the 2009 Kentucky Derby at odds of 50-1. And who rode Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby? None other than Calvin Borel.

Twice the Appeal is considered by few to be a legitimate Derby contender. He was expected to be one of the longshots in Louisville -- that is, before Borel secured the mount. Now, I would not be surprised if Twice the Appeal was among the favorites in the Run for the Roses, strictly because Borel will be aboard.

I know my respect for Twice the Appeal has just grown. But whether or not the colt wins the Derby isn't important at the moment. What's important is that Borel has a mount. A Derby without Calvin just isn't a Derby.

-Keelerman