Rachel Alexandra Bypassing Belmont

Filly's 'Well-Earned Vacation' Frees Borel to Ride Mine That Bird

LEXINGTON, Ky., May 29 -- Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra will not run in the Belmont Stakes, opening the way for jockey Calvin Borel to return to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in his quest for a personal Triple Crown.

Jess Jackson, Rachel Alexandra's co-owner, said Friday that the spectacular filly "deserves a well-earned vacation."

Rachel Alexandra, the first filly to win the Preakness in 85 years, had been set to work out Monday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, and no announcement was expected until after that. But Jackson explained she simply needed a rest after running -- and winning -- four graded stakes races since March 14, including a dominating victory in the Kentucky Oaks.

"We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes -- we feel the same," Jackson said in a statement. "But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her. While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation."

Borel was the mount for Mine That Bird in the Derby and for Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness and Oaks. He was set to ride her again in the Belmont, but Mine That Bird's trainer Chip Woolley had said he was prepared to wait -- even into next week -- if there was a chance Borel could become available again.

"We hate she's not going to be in there for horse racing, but at the same time it's maybe better for me," Woolley said Friday in a phone interview. "It was a very strange year where you had two great horses and the same guy riding both of them."

Borel, who was riding in nine races on Friday's card at Churchill Downs, was already planning to be aboard Mine That Bird on Monday at the Louisville track for the colt's final workout before shipping to New York for the Belmont.

In a statement from the New York Racing Association, Borel thanked Woolley and Mine That Bird's owners "for being so gracious and allowing us to wait for this decision." Borel also praised Jackson for making the announcement earlier than expected.

"Now that the decision is made, I am excited to come to New York and ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes," Borel said.

Rachel Alexandra had become a popular favorite since her stretch of big wins, even posing Friday morning for a photo spread in Vogue magazine.

Borel, who had won the Derby two years earlier aboard Street Sense, repeated the feat with Mine That Bird, becoming, at 50-1 odds, one of the biggest long shots ever to win the Derby.