Borel set to make history at Belmont Stakes
Borel set to make history at Belmont Stakes
Never mind the horses on the track at Belmont Park on Saturday in the 141st running of Belmont Stakes. Jockey Calvin Borel is the big story in this one as he looks for an unprecedented Jockey Triple Crown.
It’s not too often the jockey himself overshadows the horse he’s riding, but that’s exactly the case for Calvin Borel heading into the 141st edition of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday afternoon (5 PM ET, ABC).
Back in the saddle for Kentucky Derby champion and Belmont favorite Mine That Bird (-150), Borel has the chance to become the first rider to win all three Triple Crown races on different horses. Predictably listed along with Mine That Bird at -150 to turn the historical trick, Borel rode the surprise Derby winner before guiding filly Rachel Alexandra to victory at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.
There’s not much reason to handicap Mine That Bird to do anything but win the Run for the Carnations on Saturday after the upstart gelding finished second at the Preakness. If Borel can get Mine That Bird to the winner’s circle, the once unheralded horse from Kentucky will become only the 12th 3-year old to cash both the Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
Working against Mine That Bird is Borel’s relative inexperience at Belmont Park, with the jockey having ridden there only seven times – with only one victory to his credit. On top of that, the 1.5-mile run might be too long for Mine That Bird’s style, which depends on making a late push up the rail.
Bettors should remember the Belmont Stakes is named the “Test of Champions” for good reason. The race is usually over at the top of the stretch: Since 2000, the only Belmont winner that wasn’t in first or second coming down the back stretch was Sarava in 2002, and even that horse was in third position by a mere length.
The sharp money is on Charitable Man (+300), which won the Peter Pan Stakes by 3 ¾ lengths on this very track back on May 9. Guided by Alan Garcia, Charitable Man is a speedster that is expected to set the pace after resting since its big win. Charitable Man also cashed at Futurity at Belmont Park over Friesan Fire and Flying Pegasus, making the colt 2-for-2 on the track and 3-for-3 on dirt.
Dunkirk (+400) was one of the favorites heading into the Kentucky Derby before finishing 11th, but is back among the chalk for Saturday’s race. After winning its first two starts of the season, Dunkirk came in second to Quality Road at the Florida Derby, and has bulked up significantly since its disappointing run in the mud at the Derby.
The plan to run the Kentucky Derby, skip the Preakness Stakes, and then enter the Belmont Stakes has usually paid huge dividends in the third leg of the Triple Crown. Since the turn of the century, four of the winners at Belmont have done exactly that, while 2007 champ Rags to Riches cashed after resting for 35 days.
Mr. Hot Stuff (+1500) fits into the trend after sitting out since a 15th-place showing in the Kentucky Derby, as does Summer Bird (+1200), the sibling of Mine That Bird. Summer Bird finished sixth in the first leg of the Triple Crown, and had a five-week break to prepare for Belmont Park.
The other choice of the wise guys is Chocolate Candy (+1000), which starts the race on the rail. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has had his charge on the track at Belmont since May 6, immediately after Chocolate Candy came in a respectable fifth at Churchill Downs.
Rounding out the 10-horse field is Flying Private (+1200), Miner’s Escape (+1500), Brave Victory (+1500), and Luv Gov (+2000).
My Picks
It’s hard to ignore recent history when it comes to the Belmont. Horses that enter the Kentucky Derby and then rest up for this race really do have the best chance of winning it. That was certainly the case for Commendable (2000), Empire Maker (2003), Birdstone (2004), and Jazil (2006), and it’s a big reason why winning the Triple Crown is so difficult. Horses built for Churchill Downs and Pimlico don’t do as well at Belmont Park; the race is a different beast.
That having been said, how can I go against Mine That Bird after the gelding came within a length of winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown? The field simply isn’t strong enough to challenge Calvin Borel, who is set to become the first jockey to win all three legs with two horses. Chocolate Candy will come in second, with Dunkirk running in third.
Never mind the horses on the track at Belmont Park on Saturday in the 141st running of Belmont Stakes. Jockey Calvin Borel is the big story in this one as he looks for an unprecedented Jockey Triple Crown.
It’s not too often the jockey himself overshadows the horse he’s riding, but that’s exactly the case for Calvin Borel heading into the 141st edition of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday afternoon (5 PM ET, ABC).
Back in the saddle for Kentucky Derby champion and Belmont favorite Mine That Bird (-150), Borel has the chance to become the first rider to win all three Triple Crown races on different horses. Predictably listed along with Mine That Bird at -150 to turn the historical trick, Borel rode the surprise Derby winner before guiding filly Rachel Alexandra to victory at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.
There’s not much reason to handicap Mine That Bird to do anything but win the Run for the Carnations on Saturday after the upstart gelding finished second at the Preakness. If Borel can get Mine That Bird to the winner’s circle, the once unheralded horse from Kentucky will become only the 12th 3-year old to cash both the Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
Working against Mine That Bird is Borel’s relative inexperience at Belmont Park, with the jockey having ridden there only seven times – with only one victory to his credit. On top of that, the 1.5-mile run might be too long for Mine That Bird’s style, which depends on making a late push up the rail.
Bettors should remember the Belmont Stakes is named the “Test of Champions” for good reason. The race is usually over at the top of the stretch: Since 2000, the only Belmont winner that wasn’t in first or second coming down the back stretch was Sarava in 2002, and even that horse was in third position by a mere length.
The sharp money is on Charitable Man (+300), which won the Peter Pan Stakes by 3 ¾ lengths on this very track back on May 9. Guided by Alan Garcia, Charitable Man is a speedster that is expected to set the pace after resting since its big win. Charitable Man also cashed at Futurity at Belmont Park over Friesan Fire and Flying Pegasus, making the colt 2-for-2 on the track and 3-for-3 on dirt.
Dunkirk (+400) was one of the favorites heading into the Kentucky Derby before finishing 11th, but is back among the chalk for Saturday’s race. After winning its first two starts of the season, Dunkirk came in second to Quality Road at the Florida Derby, and has bulked up significantly since its disappointing run in the mud at the Derby.
The plan to run the Kentucky Derby, skip the Preakness Stakes, and then enter the Belmont Stakes has usually paid huge dividends in the third leg of the Triple Crown. Since the turn of the century, four of the winners at Belmont have done exactly that, while 2007 champ Rags to Riches cashed after resting for 35 days.
Mr. Hot Stuff (+1500) fits into the trend after sitting out since a 15th-place showing in the Kentucky Derby, as does Summer Bird (+1200), the sibling of Mine That Bird. Summer Bird finished sixth in the first leg of the Triple Crown, and had a five-week break to prepare for Belmont Park.
The other choice of the wise guys is Chocolate Candy (+1000), which starts the race on the rail. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has had his charge on the track at Belmont since May 6, immediately after Chocolate Candy came in a respectable fifth at Churchill Downs.
Rounding out the 10-horse field is Flying Private (+1200), Miner’s Escape (+1500), Brave Victory (+1500), and Luv Gov (+2000).
My Picks
It’s hard to ignore recent history when it comes to the Belmont. Horses that enter the Kentucky Derby and then rest up for this race really do have the best chance of winning it. That was certainly the case for Commendable (2000), Empire Maker (2003), Birdstone (2004), and Jazil (2006), and it’s a big reason why winning the Triple Crown is so difficult. Horses built for Churchill Downs and Pimlico don’t do as well at Belmont Park; the race is a different beast.
That having been said, how can I go against Mine That Bird after the gelding came within a length of winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown? The field simply isn’t strong enough to challenge Calvin Borel, who is set to become the first jockey to win all three legs with two horses. Chocolate Candy will come in second, with Dunkirk running in third.
