Jockey Calvin Borel guided JET ANGEL (Pine Bluff) to a neck decision in the
3RD race at Oaklawn Park on Wednesday and, in the process, earned his 4,000th
career victory. The 38-year-old native of Martinsville, Louisiana, became the
20th active rider to reach the milestone and just the 45th North American jockey
to earn 4,000th wins.
“Coming to the wire, I thought I had the other horse, but I was glad to see
the wire,” Borel said after the well-timed score. “I just want to thank my father; my
mother; my brother (trainer Cecil Borel); my fiancé, Elisa; and the great guys I ride with every day.”
Borel has racked up a number of titles during his career, including leading
rider at Churchill Downs, Louisiana Downs and Oaklawn. He also piloted Bet on
Sunshine to a close third-place finish in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
Oaklawn seems to be the place for Borel and big victories, though. In 1993,
he rode Rockamundo to a $218 win mutuel in the Arkansas Derby (G2); guided K
One King to victory over Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) hero Cat Thief in the 2000 Oaklawn H. (G1); and
owns two wins in the Apple Blossom H. (G2), riding Halo
America in 1997 and champion Gourmet Girl in 2001.
On March, 25, 1999, Borel recorded his 3,000th career win with Sunday Lil,
which also took place in the 3RD at Oaklawn.