Mine That Bird and Calvin Borel: Kentucky partnership has been broken
PICTURE: Getty ImagesBorel loses ride on Mine That Bird at Saratoga
USA: Calvin Borel has been jocked offMine That Bird, the gelding aboard whom he landed an improbable 51-1 victory in last year's Kentucky Derby.
Rajiv Maragh will partner the four-year-old in Saturday's Woodward Stakes when Mine That Bird will bid to redeem his reputation after a pair of dismal performances on his two outings so far this season.
Chip Woolley, who saddled the horse for his shock Derby win, has already been replaced by the legendary D Wayne Lukas as trainer - but since Lukas took over, Mine That Bird has finished eighth of 14 in a Grade 2 turf race and then fifth of six in te Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on August 7.
On Saturday, he will also have blinkers applied as he bids to lower the colours of likely odds-on favourite Quality Road in the $750,000 Woodward, which will be shown live on ATR.
Borel, also under pressure as Rachel Alexandra's rider, has won three of the last four Kentucky Derbys.
It is understood Mine That Bird's connections were unhappy that Borel sat well off the pace in the Whitney.
"I hate to lose him," Borel said, speaking to the Daily Racing Form. "I wish he had been there for me a little more in that race. I'd like to get one more chance. Let them do what they want, they'll come back around.
"I'm not gonna let this kill myself. I have been taken off before - I mean, I like the little horse but it's not the first time and it won't be the last."
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