Mine That Bird's Ex-Jockey Says Filly Will Smoke Him

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird has no chance of beating the Preakness favorite, filly Rachel Alexandra, says her jockey Calvin Borel. Borel ought to know; he’s the one who rode Bird to victory, before jumping ship to Alexandra, the Daily News reports. “I don’t think he can run with my filly, but he’ll run a big race," he says.

A day before the Derby, Borel rode Alexandra to a 20-length victory at the Oaks. She was bought the next day, with a price rumored to be in the $7 million-$10 million range. Alexandra is the only filly in the race, and if she wins, she’ll be just the fifth filly to do so in the race’s 134-year history. Morning odds had her as an 8-5 favorite, followed by Pioneer of the Nile at 5-1 and Mine That Bird at 6-1, notes the Spread. The race is at 6:15pm EST.
(More Preakness Stakes stories.)