Kentucky Derby 2014; Ride On Curlin is all business for Borel

Kentucky Derby 2014; Ride On Curlin is all business for Borel: Breaking from the 18th post position with 15-1 morning line odds, jockey Calvin Borel teams up with three-year-old colt Ride On Curlin for the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby set to take place on Saturday, May 3, 2014. The feisty Ride On Curlin is said to be a handful at the barn but is all business on the Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Kentucky.

Calvin Borel, who has won the Kentucky Derby three times already, reported Wednesday that he is happy with his 2014 Kentucky Derby partner Ride On Curlin despite the fact he’s a little unfriendly. Calvin Borel explained, “I like him a lot. I think he’s coming up to the race at the best time, peaking a little bit. I think every race up to this race, he always had a little excuse. He wasn’t exactly ready, or, you know, had a bad trip or something. I think he’s peaking at the right time. He sure is training good. He’s pretty smart. He’s not perfect at the barn. You don’t want to pet him or nothing like that. But once he gets on the racetrack, he’s all right. He’s a hard horse to get along with at the barn. He’ll bite you and stuff like that. But once he gets on the track, he’s all business. He’s a smart horse. If he does how I think he’s going to do, everything right, we’ll be all right.”

Trainer Billy Gowan said he is also happy with Ride On Curlin’s demeanor and reported all that is left to do is to bring him to the 2014 Kentucky Derby starting gate healthy saying, “He’s got the mind to handle it, believe me. He’s got the perfect mind for this because that’s something you can’t train in them. They’ve either got it or they don’t. He’s had it from Day One. When I ran him in the Iroquois as a two-year-old, it was night racing. They had live bands, people everywhere. Never turned a hair. I took him to the paddock yesterday and schooled him, never turned a hair. That’s the least of my worries is his mind. Every morning, I check his legs. You always hold your breath when you check his legs. Man, they’ve been cold and tight. I’m tickled to death.”

Ride On Curlin is owned by Daniel J. Dougherty and bred by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust-2008. Ride On Curlin was foaled on February 16th, 2011 by Curlin and Dam Magical Ride.

Currently, Ride On Curlin is ranked #26 out of 29,354 horses this year. Ride On Curlin has had 4 starts this year with 1 first, 1 second, and 2 thirds with a total year earnings of $323,600 and $80,900 earnings per start so far this year. Ride On Curlin has had 9 career starts with 2 firsts, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds, with total career earnings of $414,687 and $46,076 earnings per start.

Ride On Curlin had a very full racing season placing in the top four in 5 races, 2 last year and 3 this year. On September 7th, 2013, Ride On Curlin competed in the 2013 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs coming in 4th place in the grade 3 1 1/16 mile race. On October 5th, 2013 Ride On Curlin raced in the 2013 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. Ride On Curlin came in 3rd place in the grade 1 1 mile race. This year, on February 17th, Ride On Curlin competed in the 2014 Soutwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and came in third place in the grade 3 1 1/16 mile race behind Tapiture and Strong Mandate. In March, Ride On Curlin came in 3rd place in the grade 2 1 1/16 mile Rebel Stakes and Oaklawn Park behind Hoppertunity and Tapiture. More recently, Ride On Curlin came in 2nd place in the grade 1 2014 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park behind Danza.

Hopefully all the racing this season will serve as good preparation for Ride On Curlin in the 2014 Kentucky Derby and he doesn’t bite anyone before the big day.

Kentucky Derby 2014 Odds and Post Positions
1 Vicar’s In Trouble 20-1 and Rosie Napravnik
2 Harry’s Holiday 50-1 and Corey Lanerie
3 Uncle Sigh 30-1 and Irad Ortiz, Jr.
4 Danza 8-1 and Joe Bravo
5 California Chrome 5-2 and Victor Espinoza
6 Samraat 15-1 and Jose Ortiz
7 We Miss Artie 50-1 and Javier Castellano
8 General A Rod 15-1 and Joel Rosario
9 Vinceremos 30-1 and Joe Rocco, Jr.
10 Wildcat Red 15-1 and Luis Saez
11 Hoppertunity 6-1 and Mike Smith SCRATCHED
11 Dance With Fate 20-1 and Corey Nakatani
12 Chitu 20-1 and Martin Garcia
13 Medal Count 20-1 and Robby Albarado
14 Tapiture 12-1 and Ricardo Santana Jr.
15 Intense Holiday 8-1 and John Velazquez
16 Commanding Curve 50-1 Shaun Bridgmohan
17 Candy Boy 15-1 and Gary Stevens
18 Ride On Curlin 15-1 and Calvin Borel
19 Wicked Strong 6-1 and Rajiv Maragh
20 Pablo Del Monte 50-1 and Jeffrey Sanchez

Kentucky Oaks 2014 Post Positions and Odds