OCEANPORT, N.J. – More than 13 years after he saddled his last winner, trainer Israel Borges was back in the winner’s circle on Friday at Monmouth Park.
Chase Runner, a 5-year-old gelding, won the seventh race — a $5,000 claimer – on the Monmouth card to give the 69-year-old conditioner his first win since March 22, 2008, when Wild Poker broke his maiden at Penn National.
“I knew it had been a while, but I wasn’t counting,” said Borges. “I knew it was a while ago. To get another winner feels beautiful. Just beautiful. It’s hard to explain what it means.”
Some context on Borges’ lengthy absence between winners: He had only started 56 horses since his last winner, having suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia, a debilitating facial nerve malady, for nearly two decades before surgery corrected the issue. He even retired for two years in 2019 and 2020 before returning this year with a two-horse stable.
“I could not stay at home anymore and do nothing, so I went back to training,” he said.
Lydia Villafan, Borges’ wife, was able to purchase Chase Runner privately last November, and the son of Big Brown was gelded three months ago. He ran third in his first start for Borges at Monmouth Park on Aug. 14 before Friday night’s victory.
“It’s always fun when you have a horse that can run a little and can win like this,” he said.
Borges, who began training in 1993, now has 23 winners from 380 career starts. The seven starters Borges has had this year – with a win, two seconds and two thirds – are the most he has sent out since 2012, when he started 24.
Chase Runner, ridden by Albin Jimenez, paid $17.80 to win.
Monmouth Park Press Release
Photo: Trainer Israel Borges holds #7 Chase Runner for a photo in the winner circle after race 7 at Monmouth Park. Chase Runner a son of Big Brown is Borges’ first winner since 2008. Photo By Bill Denver/ EQUI-PHOTO
