Borel Notches 1,000th Churchill Downs Victory

Jun 05, 2010 Darren Rogers

Jockey Calvin Borel rode Gray Hart’s Girl to a 7 ¾-length in Friday’s fourth race to secure his 1,000th career victory at Churchill Downs.
Borel, who has ridden the winner of three of the past four Kentucky Derbies, is the second rider to reach the 1,000-victory plateau at Churchill Downs. He joins Hall of Famer Pat Day, who recorded 2,482 victories beneath the Twin Spires.
The 43-year-old Louisiana native posted victory No. 999 in Friday’s second race aboard Brown Eyed Baby, trained by his brother Cecil Borel.
Overall, Borel has won 4,767 races and his mounts have earned $110,799,492 from 32,027 starts during a 28-year riding career that began in 1983.
In Friday’s $47,740 feature for fillies and mares, Joseph Allen’s Danzon cruised to a 3 ½-length victory over War Tigress.
Trained by Kellyn Gorder and ridden by Miguel Mena, Danzon was at the rear of the six-horse field after a half-mile, but swooped past the field to complete the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:36.10.
Danzon, a 7-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Royal Academy, improved her record to 28-9-4-6 and improved her earnings to $484,823 with Friday’s $26,400 check.
Danzon returned $5.20, $2.60 and $2.20. War Tigress, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $2.80 and $2.60 with Kiss Mine finishing a neck back in third under Freddie Lenclud and paying $4 to show.
Racing resumes Saturday with an 11-race program that kicks off at 12:45 p.m. (EDT). Saturday’s feature is the 34th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) headlined by defending champion Acoma. The Mint Julep, the 10th race on the card, is scheduled for a 5:29 p.m. post time. Following the conclusion of the live program, Churchill Downs will simulcast the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes (GI) that is scheduled for 6:32 p.m.
Churchill Downs Top 20 All-Time Leading Jockeys
Through Race 4 on Friday, June 4, 2010
1. Pat Day, 2,482
2. Calvin Borel, 1,000
3. Don Brumfield, 925
4. Larry Melancon, 913
5. Jim McKnight, 883
6. Robby Albarado, 869
7. Charlie Woods Jr., 757
8. Shane Sellers, 722
9. Julio Espinoza, 642
10. Patrick A. Johnson, 465
11. Mike McDowell, 452
12. Willie Martinez, 433
13. Keith Allen, 431
14. Julien Leparoux, 419
15. Earlie Fires, 403
16. Rafael Bejarano, 399
17. Jon Court, 352
18. Mark Guidry, 330
19. Shaun Bridgmohan, 286
20. Tracy Hebert, 281