LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Because of a brilliant ride by Calvin Borel on a bay colt named Super Saver, trainer Todd Pletcher never again will have to answer the question: “How does it feel to be 0-for-life in the Kentucky Derby?”
Over nine frustrating years, through which he saddled 24 Derby starters, America’s premier trainer routinely went home empty-handed from Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. Now, after Super Saver rallied up the rail down the stretch to win the roses by 21/2 lengths, the monkey finally is off Pletcher’s back.
“Everyone said we had one with our name written on it,” he said. “I didn’t take anything for granted. The one thing that was important to me was to win when my parents were still here to see it. It’s a race I wanted to win my whole life.”
Pletcher also saddled Derby starters Mission Impazible (ninth), the filly Devil May Care (10th) and Discreetly Mine (13th) yesterday. But his best 3-year-old, Eskendereya, who would have been the solid favorite, was withdrawn from the race last week with a leg injury.
“A lot of times, things work out for a reason,” Pletcher said.
Borel is the first jockey to win three Derbys in four years. Nicknamed “Bo-rail” for his ground-saving rides, he also skimmed the fence to win with 9-2 favorite Street Sense in 2007 and last year with 50-1 Mine That Bird.
“I was born to ride,” he said. “I’m very blessed.”
Though the sun punched through the clouds as the band struck up “My Old Kentucky Home,” the track was sloppy after it had rained through the morning into the afternoon. As expected, Conveyance dashed to the lead, chased by Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney’s Candy, the 5-1 second choice on the morning line who went off a 9-1 longshot — one of several puzzling odds in an oddly bet race.
Behind them, Lookin At Lucky was anything but. Breaking from post 1 as the longest-priced favorite in Derby history at 6.30-1, he got squeezed into the rail at the start, then had to take up again when he was sawed off the first time past the stands. He never recovered, finishing sixth.
Conveyance and Sidney’s Candy ran 1-2 down the backside through a grueling pace of 22.63 seconds, 46.16 and 1:10.58, eventually fading to finish 15th and 17th. Turning for home, Noble’s Promise made a bold move to the lead, but Super Saver, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club last year at Churchill and second in the April 10 Arkansas Derby, knifed inside of him and drew off, running the mile-and-a-quarter in a slow 2:04.45.
“Calvin was in a beautiful spot the whole way,” Pletcher said. “We didn’t want to handcuff him with too many instructions. Calvin Borel is a great rider anywhere, but at Churchill Downs, he’s five lengths better.”
“I had him where I wanted,” Borel said. “I got him off the pace and he relaxed good. When I worked him the other day, I thought the colt was peaking right now, and he might get better. I think he can take us all the way [to sweep the Triple Crown].”
Super Saver is a WinStar Farm homebred son of Maria’s Mon, the sire of 2001 Derby winner Monarchos. In the previous four years, WinStar owned all or part of 10 Derby starters. Their best finish was a second in 2006 by Bluegrass Cat, Super Saver’s cousin.
Super Saver paid $18 to win, making a rich man of Glen Fullerton of Houston, Texas. The 40-year-old software engineer won CNBC’s “Close the Call” contest from 12,000 entrants, giving him a $100,000 win bet on one of the Derby starters. He put it on Super Saver.
Ice Box, at 11-1, finished fast for second, completing a $152.40 exacta. With 12-1 Paddy O’Prado third and 30-1 Make Music for Me fourth, the trifecta returned $2,337.50 and the superfecta, $202,569.20.
ed.fountaine@nypost.com