Borel is seeking personal Triple

NEW YORK (AP) — A Cajun, a cowboy and a tough little gelding have teamed up to make this Triple Crown season one to remember.

In today’s Belmont Stakes, Cajun rider Calvin Borel will be reunited with trainer Chip Woolley’s Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in an attempt to become the first jockey to win the Triple Crown on different horses.

Borel has guaranteed victory in the 11‚Ñ2-mile Belmont, and isn’t about to back down as post time approaches.

“I said it, and I’m sticking with it,” the jockey from St. Martin Parish, La., said. “I’m confident 100 percent that he’ll win.”

Woolley, a former bareback rider from New Mexico with the big, black cowboy hat, loves Borel’s fearlessness, and was thrilled he was available to ride Mine That Bird in last month’s Derby.

“You’ve got to go into these big races with a lot of confidence and patience and belief in yourself to do it,” he said. “He’ the perfect match.”

Borel won the Derby on the 50-1 long shot by an astonishing 63‚Ñ4 lengths in a daring rail-rattling, last-to-first ride. The plot thickened when Rachel Alexandra — the filly he rode to six straight wins — was entered in the Preakness by new owner Jess Jackson and Borel was obligated to ride her.

Borel guided the filly to a one-length win over late-charging Mine That Bird. With Rachel Alexandra not in the Belmont, the stage is set for Borel to carve out his own place in thoroughbred racing history.

“Sure I want it for myself,” Borel said. “Why not? Nobody did it. I’d like to do it. It’s another milestone. I want to do it for Chip, too. I’m grateful he gave me an opportunity to ride the horse back. It’s a dream, and I’m just riding it.”

Mine That Bird is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of 10 3-year-olds, with Charitable Man the second choice at 3-1.

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