Jockey
Calvin Borel made his presence in the Gulfstream Park jockeys’
room felt immediately, scoring aboard one of two mounts Thursday on his
first day of riding at the 2011-2012 meeting. The 45-year-old
Kentucky-based journeyman, who traditionally has ridden at Oaklawn Park
during the winter, will be riding full time at Gulfstream Park for the
first time.
The St. Martin Parish, La. native found the winner’s circle with the
William “Buff” Bradley-trained
Groupie Doll in Thursday’s featured tenth
race, a $64,000 optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares at
one mile.
“I think I’m going to have a fun, nice and chilling-out meet. I’ve got a
few 2-year-olds that I like with Ian Wilkes and Buff,” Borel said. “I
have some different people to ride for, so we’re going to take a shot.”
Borel is obviously looking for a horse that can give him his fourth
Kentucky Derby success. He has won the Run for the Roses with Street
Sense (2007), Mine That Bird (2009) and Super Saver (2010), as well as
guiding Rachel Alexandra to the 2009 Horse of the Year title.
Groupie Doll, the 6-5 favorite, bounded out to a clear early lead and
was never threatened thereafter, prevailing by 2 ½ lengths.
“It feels good. I got to ride a couple and win this one. She’s a really
nice filly. I want to thank Buff and his dad for giving me an
opportunity to ride this filly,” Borel said. “I knew she could run, but I
didn’t know how good she was. She’s a nice filly, incredible.”
Bred and owned by Bradley and his father, Fred, the 3-year-old daughter
of Bowman’s Band has won four of eight starts, including a triumph in
the Gardenia Stakes (G3) at Ellis Park in August.
“We just wanted to get her going over this track and she how she’d do.
Calvin’s worked her several times before now and I’m just glad to him on
her and get a race into her,” Bradley said. “We’ve been happy with her
since we got here.”
Bradley had no immediate goals for Groupie Doll, who had finished
seventh on the Churchill Downs turf in the Mrs. Revere (G2) in her most
recent start.
“Now we can look to the rest of the winter with her. She can do
anything. She’s run on anything. She just had a bad trip last time. I
really think she can run on grass, but right now we’ll keep her on the
dirt,” Bradley said. “She’s beaten some pretty nice 3-year-old fillies
and I did win the Grade 3 Gardenia against older fillies with her. My
father and I are happy. We bred her and raised her, so it’s a little
more sentimental for us to have a horse like this. We’re excited.”