It has always been my strategy to bet the jockey and at Churchill my jockey is always Calvin Borel. So I will be placing my minimum $2 bet for the three-time Derby winner to win, place or show in all of his races at the Breeders' Cup this weekend. Five to be exact. Follow along and see how I do.

Friday, Race 5: Breeders' Cup Marathon, Horse 12, A.U. Miner

• Result: Third (show)*
• Winnings:$5.20 on a $2 across-the-board bet ($6 total)
• Total: -$0.80

*Alas, I had no money on his TKO of fellow jockey Javier Castellano after the race.

Friday, Race 8: Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Calvin is aboard the number 12 horse Tell A Kelly.  This race is his first one since the now infamous scuffle after race 5 with fellow jockey Javier Castellano. Tell A Kelly is going off at 9/2 and once again I have a $2 across the board on Borel. Currently I'm $0.80 down but hoping the testosterone-filled Borel will help put my total into the black. As an aside, Castellano is not riding in the 8th race so no post-race rematch for now.

And they're off...apparently Calvin was not filled with testosterone as he just finished out of the money.

• Result: Out ofthe money
• Winnings:$0.00
• Total: -$6.80

Friday, Race 10: Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic

Ok Calvin, time to pull yourself together. ESPN quoted you as saying that you and Castellano have worked through your differences so time to move on—or at the very least tell us what was said coming into that final turn. I've got another $2 across the board and I'm counting on you once again to pull me out of the red. This time you're riding the 37-1 long-shot Seeking the Title which means you can really pull me ahead in my daily total. 

And they're off...

And I'm down another $6.00. But this time I really think Calvin rode the best race he could on Seeking the Title. He was hugging the rail and asking her to move she just didn't have it in her. Well tomorrow's another day. I still believe Borel will come back tomorrow in his two races, the 5th and 8th.  And I'll be there with another $2 across the board on Calvin.

• Result: Out of the money
• Winnings: $0.00
• Total: -$12.80

Saturday, Race 5: Sentinent Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint

As many of you are aware Calvin was involved in a bit a a scuffle yesterday after the 5th race with Javier Castellano. We've been told that they have worked through their issues and for the sake of my daily take I hope we've got a focused Borel today. 

To recap I'm down $12.80 from yesterday's races. As Calvin is riding in only two races (the fifth, Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint, and the ninth, the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile) we're going to need to do really well.

In the fifth race Borel will be aboard Atta Boy Roy going out of the gate at 12-1. Interesting to note Borel's sparring parter Castellano also will be in this race aboard Pashito The Che.

And they're off...

And they're finished.  And I think Borel's still riding. And I'm down another $6.00.

• Result: Out of the money
• Winnings: $0.00
• Total: -$18.80

Saturday, Race 9: Breeders Cup Dirt Mile

This is Calvin's last race and he's going out at 14-1. For those of you without the benefit of a calculator this means I could pull back into the black on my $2 across the board bet. Interestingly enough the #11 horse in this race is Derby winner Mine that Bird, which as many of you remember was ridden by none other then Calvin Borel. (My $5 bet on that Borel horse paid for my ticket and part of my hat that year.) I'll take that as a sign. A sign for what I'm not yet sure.

And they're off...

Second to last. And we're done. Calvin has taken me to a disappointing -$24.80

• Result: Out of the money
• Winnings: $0.00
• Total: -$24.80 

Oh well, Calvin, there's always Derby 137. And there's always trackside jockey fights.

Photo: Zach Everson