The Hall of Fame Jockey Calvin Borel has developed its share of disorders on the gigantic stage, and which may lead to a breathtaking, railway end of 50.60-1 score in the Slop in the Kentucky Derby 2009.
Borel's victory on board Rockamundo in the 1993 Arkansa's derby has to rank there with the biggest shockers on the Kentucky Derby Trail.
“We understand that everyone who reads this [Daily Racing Form] If we had thought we would be crazy to lead this horse, ”owner Gary West in the participation of Rockamundo in the Arkansas derby from 1993.
As a 2-year-old for coach Orin J. “Benny” Glass Jr. and the owners Gary and Mary West, the Bay Colt from Key To The Mint used up a promise. He only won one of seven starts, but ended in a trio of missions in the top three, including a third place in the Arlington-Washington Futurity in 2-class 2.
Rockamundo completed his youth season in the rhythm stakes in the Gulfstream Park and was only hit by half a long length, while at the Undercard of the Breeders' Cup on the race was hit in fourth place.
Unfortunately, Rockamundo showed little in his first two races as a 3-year-old. He was 11th and hit in the Louisiana Derby with 11 lengths and then placed and was beaten with 10 ¾ lengths in the Remington Park Derby. While Rockamundo had shown some skills as a 2-year-old, he was in both starts at 3 and possessed only one victory (in Nebraska) in nine starts in the Arkansas derby from 1993.
“We didn't take any of it personally,” said Gary West to Bloodhorse. “We understand that everyone who reads this [Daily Racing Form] Would have thought we were crazy to run this horse. “
Rockamundo was a deeper close in his previous nine starts and was paired for the first time with Borel in the Arkansas derby. Borel said that he was “stunned” when Rockamundo showed an uncharacteristic early speed, while he raced Foxtrail within a length of Pacesetter.
“When I knew that I still had a lot of horse on half a mile rod, I became pretty confident,” said Borel.
After Foxtrail had set a quick pace through half a mile in: 45.82 and six Furlongs in 1: 09.95, he began to take over Rockamundo by opening on the inside to create the command. He celebrated with a passionate shaking of the whip when Rockamundo crossed one and a half length in front of the finish line, while many of the 70.002 saw disadvantage.
“This is absolutely my biggest thrill in the race,” said Glass, then 44.
Borel was a 26-year-old who had never started in a race in Churchill Downs at the time, but in the coming years the born from Louisiana won more than 1,200 races on the legendary Louisville route with Kentucky Derby victories on board Street Sense (2007), Mine That Bird (2009) and Super Sever (2010).
Rockamundo and Borel took 17th place in the Kentucky Derby in 1993, which won from Sea Hero, and the winner of the Arkansas Derby no longer visited the circle of the winner after his monumental surprise in seven placed surfaces.
“If it was a coincidence, it was a nice coincidence,” said Glas after the Arkansas derby.
In fact, it was.
