Bad "Moon" Rising

Calvin Borel was nicknamed Calvin Bo-Rail for his exploits on the inner part of the Churchill Downs main track, and he pulled another rabbit out of his hat Friday afternoon.

 

Riding Moonshine Mullin, a former claimer, the Hall of Fame rider stuck to the rail and outdueled Golden Ticket late, winning the $300,000 Grade 2 Alysheba at a big price. The race served as a prelude to the Kentucky Oaks, but from an excitement standpoint, the event more than held its own with Friday’s feature.

 

Breaking from the 1-hole, the son of Albert the Great broke on top and led through moderate fractions. Around the far turn, the Randy Morse trainee was challenged by Golden Ticket, and yielded the lead to that rival in mid-stretch while heavy favorite Will Take Charge toiled near the back of the pack.

 

Instead of fading to second, though, Moonshine Mullin dug in, inching ever closer. In the final strides, the 6-year-old and Borel regained the lead before hitting the wire clear by a half-length and stopping the timer in 1:42.83 for the 1 1/16-mile distance. Golden Ticket settled for second, while Coin Broker was a distant third, finishing nearly four lengths behind the top two.

 

Many expected Will Take Charge to do just that, but the Eclipse Award winner was a total non-factor. Jockey Gary Stevens seemed to be in a drive for most of the race, but the son of Unbridled’s Song could do no better than a well-beaten sixth.

 

The Alysheba also featured 2013 Triple Crown veterans Mylute (who finished fourth) and Golden Soul (the seventh-place finisher). Moonshine Mullin, who has now won four consecutive races, paid $15.80 to win and keyed an exacta that paid $81.60 for every $2 wagered. Before Friday, Moonshine Mullin’s main claim to fame was a strong 2011 summer at Saratoga, where he ran second in the Jim Dandy and sixth in the Travers.