by Jeff Lowe

However you score it, Calvin Borel is the central human figure in the $1.1-million Blackberry Preakness Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

Whether he played his moves right will be obvious at about 6:17 p.m. EDT.

Borel will be under the microscope after making the unprecedented decision to jump off Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Mine That Bird and ride Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra instead in the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown

Borel was not battling any second thoughts on Friday.

“It’s a good position to be in,” Borel said. “Like I said all along, I think she’s the best horse in the country, and I’m not going to go back on my word.”

Borel said as much before Mine That Bird had even finished cooling out after his stunning win in the Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs. Presented with a hypothetical choice between riding Mine That Bird or Rachel Alexandra, Borel said he would have to choose the filly.

Before that pick became a reality, Borel did not know for sure that it was his decision to make after Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick purchased Rachel Alexandra privately four days after the Oaks.

Borel does not regularly ride for her new trainer, Steve Asmussen.

“I was concerned when she was sold,” Borel said.

When Jackson offered him the mount for the rest of the year, Borel did not hesitate to accept. He and his agent, Jerry Hissam, had already made it clear to Mine That Bird’s trainer, Chip Woolley Jr., which way they would go if it came down to a choice. 

“It wasn’t any pressure,” Borel said. “Chip knew going in. If the filly would have happened to have run in the Derby, we’d have rode her, and if something like this would come about, he knew all along that I would ride the filly. Going into the Derby, we weren’t worried about that. He just wanted me to ride his colt to get him back and ride him like a professional and get the job done for him. They didn’t have any hard feelings. If I can’t win it, I hope he does.”

Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will take the reins on Mine That Bird. Whether they can succeed without the kind of trip the gelding had under Borel in the Derby is the main question in Woolley’s mind for the Preakness. 

“The chances of getting a rail trip like we did at Churchill are probably a little slimmer here,” Woolley said. “The turns are a little tighter; it will be a little tougher. The trip we get is probably going to be the most important factor to me.”

Rachel Alexandra will carry plenty of questions into the Preakness that Borel is glad she will get the chance to answer.

“Right now, I’m glad,” Borel said. “She’s got a lot to prove, and I’ve got a lot to prove for the people and [to] show the public why I think she’s the best horse in the country right now. And this is the time to do it.”

Borel compared the Medaglia d’Oro filly to Street Sense, whom he guided to a narrow second-place finish to Jackson’s Curlin in the 2007 Preakness, following a victory in the Kentucky Derby.

“She reminds me so much of Street Sense,” Borel said. “You could set a bomb under her, and I think that’s what makes her a racemare—mentally and the stride that she has. She has the most unbelievable stride in the world. It’s not that she’s fast, she just has such a big stride. I think that’s what makes her so good.”

Rachel Alexandra galloped on Friday in her first visit to the Pimlico track. She arrived on Wednesday afternoon and walked on Thursday.

“She was relaxed and seemed happy to be out there,” said Scott Blasi, Asmussen’s chief assistant. “This morning was one of those mornings where I feel comfortable. She’s loose and she’s happy. I feel comfortable with how she’s doing.”

Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra are the only Grade 1 winners on dirt in the Preakness field of 13. Pioneerof the Nile, the Derby runner-up, won two Grade 1 races on synthetic surfaces in California. He will give trainer Bob Baffert a chance at a fifth Preakness victory since 1997.

Baffert said he would like his chances better if Rachel Alexandra was not in the mix.

“Why? Because she’s so tough,” Baffert said. “She’s really fast. If her style was coming from off the pace and she had to weave her way through, it would be more difficult for her.
“
One good thing about having Rachel Alexandra in there is she is a great target. I just hope we can catch the target.”

Jeff Lowe is a THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer