Borel notches 4,999th win aboard brother's well-regarded juvenile

Borel notches 4,999th win aboard brother's well-regarded

juvenile

Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel crept closer to a major

career milestone at Fair Grounds on Friday night, tallying

career win 4,999 aboard promising two-year-old Malibu High in the

2ND race, an

entry-level allowance at six furlongs over a sloppy main track.

"It's hard to get there (to 5,000 wins) but I've been riding for

twenty-something years and I've been on good horses," Borel said. "This colt was

ready today. My brother had him sharp and he responded for me."

Malibu High remained undefeated in his second career start for trainer Cecil

Borel, the rider's brother. Mary Grum's Malibu Moon colt bided his time while Agave Cat led early through early

fractions of :22 1/5 and :46 1/5.

As he did in perhaps his most famous ride,

aboard Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Borel brought his

charge up the rail while skipping through the slop. This time he won by

three-quarters of a length, stopping the clock in 1:11 2/5.

Malibu High paid $6.40, $5 and $3.40 and raised his career earnings to $58,980.

Agave Cat held on for second from Favorite Uncle.

Cecil Borel said he would nominate Malibu High to stakes at Fair Grounds (the Grade

3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on January 19) and Oaklawn Park (the

$150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on January 21) as possible next starts.

"He has all the talent in the world," Calvin Borel said. "He's a very smart

horse; he'll win on his smartness. I think he'll beat some good horses."

The rider said it was unlikely he would have any more mounts before the start

of the Oaklawn Park season on January 11, so his 5,000th milestone will await

Hot Springs, Arkansas.

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