No Longer the Underdog, Mine That Bird Is Belmont Stakes Favorite

With a Kentucky Derby win and a second place finish at the Preakness Stakes, Mine That Bird is no longer the underdog. The three-year-old gelding is now the favorite to win the Belmont Stakes at 2-1. Mine That Bird will once again be ridden by Calvin Borel, who rode the colt to the derby win.

Borel got off the derby winner to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes, the super filly that ran away with the Kentucky Oaks two weeks prior. The owners of Rachel Alexandra decided not to run the filly in the Belmont, opening the door for Borel to get back on Mine That Bird. Mike Smith rode Mine That Bird in the Preakness and due to obligations already made, he could not ride the horse in the Belmont.

Calvin Borel will seek to become the first jockey to win all three legs of the Triple Crown on two different horses if he can manage Mine That Bird to a Belmont win. The Belmont is the longest of the Triple Crown races at a 1 ½ miles, so there will be plenty of time for Borel to move Mine That Bird through the field if he does have to come from last to first once again.

Other favorites: Charitable Man at 3-1 is the second choice, and Dunkirk at 4-1 is the third choice. All the post, horses, trainers, jockeys, and odds are below.

 Post       Horse                               Jockey                            Trainer                        ML Odds

 

1	Chocolate Candy	G. Gomez	J. Hollendorfer	10-1
2	Dunkirk	J. Velazquez	T. Pletcher	4-1
3	Mr. Hot Stuff	E. Prado	E. Harty	15-1
4	Summer Bird	K. Desormeaux	T. Ice	12-1
5	Luv Gov	M. Mena	D. W. Lukas	20-1
6	Charitable Man	A. Garcia	K. McLaughlin	3-1
7	Mine That Bird	C. Borel	C. Woolley	2-1
8	Flying Private	J. Leparoux	D. W. Lukas	12-1
9	Miner’s Escape	J. Lezcano	N. Zito	15-1
10	Brave Victory	R. Maragh	N. Zito	15-1