If you're looking for a horse to beat Mine That Bird in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, it could be Kiaran McLaughlin's Charitable Man, shown here winning the Peter Pan Stakes four weeks ago. Charitable Man was installed as the 3-1 second choice for the 141st running of the Belmont, with Alan Garcia aboard. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)
Calvin Borel reaffirmed his guarantee of a Belmont Stakes win on Mine That Bird, which would make him the first jockey to win the Triple Crown on two different horses. Today, the connections of the Kentucky Derby-winning gelding drew post No. 7 for Saturday's mile-and-a-half contest. Mine That Bird is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the field of ten, and has the breeding to go the distance, as his sire is 2004 Belmont winner Birdstone, who lit up the board at 36-1 five years ago to end the Triple Crown dream of then-undefeated Smarty Jones.
A victory won't come easy for Borel, as nine others look to knock him off Saturday. Chief among them is Charitable Man, who will break just to Mine That Bird's inside from post six. Charitable Man is 2-for-2 at Belmont, including a win in the Peter Pan on May 9th, and is also the son of a Belmont winner; as Lemon Drop Kid won the final leg of the Triple Crown in 1999. Moreover, while Borel and trainer Chip Woolley of Mine That Bird will be making their first appearances in the Belmont, Charitable Man's connections know how to win this race. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin guided Jazil to the winner's circle in the 2006 Belmont, and jockey Alan Garcia won wire-to-wire last year on 38-1 shot Da' Tara, wrecking the Triple Crown hopes of Big Brown.
Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez, who won the Belmont in 2007 with Rags To Riches, are back this year with Dunkirk, who was a disappointing 11th in the Kentucky Derby. Dunkirk will break from post two, and is 4-1 on the morning line. Like McLaughlin, Pletcher was an assistant to D. Wayne Lukas before going on his own; and Lukas sends out a pair of attractively-priced horses Saturday. Flying Private was fourth in the Preakness and is 12-1 on the morning line with Julien Leparoux up from post eight, while Luv Gov breaks from the No. 5 slot with jockey Miguel Mena in the saddle and a 20-1 morning-line price. Lukas won the Triple Crown with two different horses in 1995.
Nick Zito, who won the Belmont with Birdstone and Da' Tara, sends out two 15-1 shots that drew the outside posts in the field of ten. Miner's Escape and Brave Victory go out for the Hall of Fame trainer with Jose Lezcano and Rajiv Maragh in the irons, respectively.
Chocolate Candy, fifth in the Derby, breaks from the rail with Garrett Gomez up. Summer Bird (post No. 4 with Kent Desormeaux riding) and Mr. Hot Stuff (post three with Edgar Prado) complete the field.
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