Louisville (Kentucky), May 3: Calvin Borel had barely piloted Super Saver through the slop to a Kentucky Derby victory than he was predicting the colt would win the coveted Triple Crown.
“We’re going to win the Triple Crown this year,” said Borel, a bold prediction given no horse has completed the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes treble since Affirmed in 1978.
“The colt is peaking right now at the right time,” Borel said after Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby by 2-1/2 lengths.
“This colt might just get better,” he added.
Borel has plenty of Triple Crown experience. Last year, he won the Kentucky Derby on 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird, then won the Preakness aboard filly Rachel Alexandra.
Mine That Bird went off as 6-5 favorite under Borel in the Belmont, and finished third.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who claimed his first Derby win after coming up empty in 24 previous attempts, admitted that a Derby triumph made it hard not to think about a Triple Crown.
“This is wonderful, but you kind of start thinking about moving forward and what the next plans are and how you’re going to get there,” he said.
Pletcher plans to keep Super Saver at Churchill Downs for training before shipping him to Pimlico in Baltimore four days ahead of the May 15 Preakness.
Several potential rivals await Super Saver in the 1-1/16-mile Preakness, which is limited to 14 starters.
Other possible starters from the Derby are third-place Paddy O’Prado and Jackson Bend, who finished 12th.
Pletcher said two of his other Derby starters, filly Devil May Care and Discreetly Mine, won’t go on to Baltimore.
Trainer Nick Zito said Derby runner-up Ice Box was doubtful for the second leg of the Triple Crown after getting checked three times in the Derby.
“I’d like to know a horse that was checked three tim-es finishes second. Let me know. They check once, th-ey finish 18th. He was che-cked three times. It’s pretty amazing,” he said.