Calvin Borel guided Super Saver through the mud to victory in the 136th Kentucky Derby on Saturday to give trainer Todd Pletcher his first Derby win after 24 fruitless attempts.For Borel, it was a third triumph in four years in the venerable race, the first jewel in US flat racing's Triple Crown.Borel piloted 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird to a stunning triumph last year, and won in 2007 aboard Street Sense."Calvin Borel is a great rider anywhere he goes, but at Churchill Downs he's even five len

Calvin Borel guided Super Saver through the mud to victory in the 136th Kentucky Derby on Saturday to give trainer Todd Pletcher his first Derby win after 24 fruitless attempts.

For Borel, it was a third triumph in four years in the venerable race, the first jewel in US flat racing's Triple Crown.

Borel piloted 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird to a stunning triumph last year, and won in 2007 aboard Street Sense.

"Calvin Borel is a great rider anywhere he goes, but at Churchill Downs he's even five lengths better," Pletcher said.

"He knows how to ride this track and gets along with his colt beautifully."

On the treacherous mud at Churchill Downs, Borel delivered another superb ride on the rail, stalking the leaders before making his move into the stretch to cruise to victory.

Borel had enough confidence in his mount to back off the lead early, although in all but one of his six prior races the colt had never been further back than second in the early going.

Borel knew the sloppy track and the 20-horse field made a front-running strategy a bad idea.

So after jumping from gate four he quickly moved Super Saver to the rail and bided his time.

"Calvin Borel is amazing. He is fearless," rival trainer Bob Baffert said.

"He takes control of the race, and you have to give him a lot of credit. He's a great rider."

Super Saver went off as the second-choice behind favorite Lookin At Lucky in the 1-1/4-mile (2000m) race.

Lookin At Lucky, trained by Baffert, was hindered by his unfavourable post on the rail and finished sixth.

Baffert's other entry, Conveyance set the pace for more than three-quarters of a mile before finishing 15th.

Ice Box, saddled by Nick Zito and ridden by Jose Lezcano, overcame a terrible trip to capture second, edging the Dale Romans-trained Paddy O'Prado who was third with Kent Desormeaux aboard.

The Triple Crown continues with the Preakness in two weeks at Baltimore followed by the Belmont Stakes in June.

An ebullient Borel insisted Super Saver could become the first horse to complete the coveted treble since Affirmed in 1978.

While Pletcher ended his Derby drought, the triumph didn't come on the horse that was reckoned his best chance this year.

Eskendereya was the horse to beat in the build-up to the Derby but had to be scratched last weekend with a leg injury.