Can you name the horse that started the rise of Calvin Borel? If your answers are either Street Sense, Mine That Bird, Super Saver, or Rachel Alexandra, you would be incorrect. We actually have to go back to 2006 in order to find that horse. The two of the last three where a month to 6 months old, one wasn't born yet, and Street Sense was just about ready to start his career. The horse that basically started his rise was a Nick Zito castoff by the name of Seek Gold.
Trained by Ron Morquett after his fifth place finish in the Alysheba, he was entered into the 2006 Stephen Foster Handicap. In that same race was Buzzard's Bay who was coming off a win in the Oaklawn Handicap, Brass Hat who had been on a roll and former Foster winner Perfect Drift.
As they hit the top of the stretch Love of Money who was a decent horse had the lead, but the oldtimer Perfect Drift passed him very quickly. It looked like that Drifty was going to hold on for his second Foster win when Seek Gold who no suprise was the longest shot on the board came right to him.
In real time you can tell that Seek Gold did get his nose in front in time to catch Perfect Drift, however on the slow mo it looked too close to call. In the end, Seek Gold with his jockey Calvin Borel where able to nip Perfect Drift and his jockey Mark Guidry. It would be the begining of an interesting 5 years for Calvin. Just a few weeks later he guided Street Sense to a runner up finish in his first start. By the end of the year, they where romping home in what be 2 Grade 1 wins at Churchill (the Derby being the other). As for Seek Gold? He sadly never won again in his career and I believe is a pasture puff somewhere in the Mid West where Ron Morquett has a farm.
But for one day, a former Zito horse was king of the world, and helped put a 3 time Derby winning jockey and the jock to possibly one of the greatest fillies of all time on the map.
No comments:
Post a Comment