Borel brothers, Spa City owner take 'Nodouble'

K J's Nobility, under Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel, races to a three-length win of the Nodouble Breeders' Stakes Saturday at Oaklawn Park. - Photo courtesy of Coady Photography
K J's Nobility, under Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel, races to a three-length win of the Nodouble Breeders' Stakes Saturday at Oaklawn Park. - Photo courtesy of Coady Photography

A Hall of Fame jockey at age 53 with three Kentucky Derby victories and the respect of the racing industry, Calvin Borel could be excused for going home early on a rainy, stormy afternoon like that Hot Springs experienced on Saturday.

But that would not reflect the work ethic of this master craftsman, one who, like Jackson Pollock with drip-style painting, made skimming the rail in major races an art form.

So, it wasn't unusual to see Borel on horseback in featured Race 9 at Oaklawn on the final Saturday of March. Considering that the purse was $100,000 and older brother Cecil Borel trains K J's Nobility, the jockey nicknamed "Bo-Rail" was sure to view the Nodouble Breeders' with interest.

Seventy seconds after the gates opened, K J's Nobility checked home first by three lengths in a race that he finished fourth last year. The Nodouble Breeders' marked the first stakes victory for the 6-year-old chestnut gelding, a product of $1,000 sire Primary Suspect and K J's Girl, Oaklawn's 2004 Rainbow Miss winner when trained by Rick Jackson.

Calvin Borel waited patiently in midpack until swinging his mount wide off the turn for the stretch run. K J's Nobility shrugged off the 5-pound weight penalty he incurred for winning a Feb. 22 prep and, carrying 123 pounds over a sloppy surface, stopped the teletimer at 1:10 flat. The 9-5 favorite, K J's Nobility paid $5.60, $3.60 and $3 after his sixth victory from 14 Oaklawn starts.

Two-time meet winner Bandit Point, carrying 123 pounds, finished wide for second at 12-1 and Glacken's Ghost an even third at 21-1. J.E.'s Handmedown, the 2018 Nodouble winner, ran fourth, followed by 10-year-old Rock City Roadhog with 2019 Nodouble winner Hoonani Road and Racer dead-heating for sixth. Heritage Park finished ahead of Hoonani Road's half-brother and fellow two-time meet winner Destiny Way.

Cecil Borel, looking down the road and conserving his horse's energy, skipped a March 12 prep for the Nodouble to train up to the race.

"We took a little step backwards after he won last time. I couldn't make four races," Cecil said Thursday. "A lot of people couldn't understand why I passed that last race, but I had to. I don't think it would be right to run him in that race, run him Saturday, run him back long again, then run him back on the next-to-last day. That's just too much. I did what I thought was right."

Borel hopes the Nodouble leads to a two-turn prep for the $165,000 Arkansas Breeders Championship at 1 1/16 miles May 1. K J's Nobility finished second, a half-length back of Hoonani Road, in the inaugural ABC last year.

K J's Nobility has propelled its 20-year-old Hot Springs owner, Carson McCord, into the Oaklawn spotlight. A college student in California, Carson has five wins and a third from eight starts at the meeting for $205,044. Cecil Borel also is batting at a high average among trainers, 6 for 11 for $221,769.

Foaled on March 15, 2014, by Hobego Racing, K J's Nobility improved his seasonal bankroll to $122,200 and, now 9 for 27, past $400,000 overall.

When not training horses, the Borel brothers are apt to be on the water, Cecil entertaining the thought of a new bass boat during the week. "If K J wins Saturday, I won't have to take a dollar out of my pocket," he said. "It will be paid for."

Sports on 03/29/2020

Upcoming Events