Call toll free: 1 888 51 BETUS (23887)

Up to Triple Crown Articles

posted June 4, 2009 at 12:18 EST in Triple Crown Articles

Belmont Stakes - Everything you need to know

Bookmark and Share by Michael Dempsey

Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness Stakes runner up Mine That Bird drew the seven post and was installed as the 2/1 morning line favorite in Saturday’s 141st running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.

The third jewel of the Triple Crown drew a field of ten three year olds, who will go 1 ½ miles on the main track.

The Belmont Stakes is the 11th race on the marathon 13 race card on Saturday, will first post at 11:35am eastern time. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is 6:27 ET.

ESPN will have five hours of national coverage of Belmont Stakes Day, starting at noon. The coverage switches to ABC at 5:00 ET.

Charitable Man, the second choice on the morning line at 3/1 drew the six post and will break next to the Derby champ.

Kiaran McLaughlin, who won the 2006 Belmont Stakes with Jazil, trains the colt. The son of Lemon Drop Kid won the Peter Pan Stakes in his last start, and figures to be on or near the lead.

The third choice on the morning line is Dunkirk, who will break from post 2. The colt followed up his promising runner up finish in the Florida Derby with a troubled trip in an 11th place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

The Todd Pletcher trainee is 4/1 on the morning line. Pletcher trained 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches.

Hall of fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sends out a pair of runner as he seeks to win a record 14th Triple Crown race. The trainer is currently tied with James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons with 13 Triple Crown victories each.

Flying Private, who was fourth in the Preakness Stakes in his last start breaks from the 8 post and is 12/1 on the morning line.

Lukas will give Julian Leparoux a leg up on the son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.

Lukas also trains Luv Gov. The colt was eighth in the Preakness Stakes in his last start, will break from the 5 post, and is the longest price in the field at 20/1 on the morning line.

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito leads all trainers with starters over the past 35 years with 20. He starts two this year, Peter Pan third place finisher Brave Victory, who drew the far outside 10 post and is 15/1 on the morning line, and Miner’s Escape, who won the Federico Tesio in his last start.

Miner’s Escape drew the nine post and is 15/1 on the morning line. Robert LaPenta owns both of Zito’s runners.

Chocolate Candy drew the rail post and is 10/1 on the morning line. Trained by legendary Northern California trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the colt will be ridden by Garrett Gomez.

Also in the field is Mr. Hot Stuff, who was 15th in the Kentucky Derby. The colt is 15/1 on the morning line and drew the 3 post.

Summer Bird, the sixth place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, drew the 4 post and is 12/1 on the morning line.

Summer Bird will be ridden for the first time by Kent Desormeaux, who is seeking his first Belmont Stakes victory.

The Belmont Stakes Day card gets underway early, and there is a great supporting race menu including five graded stakes: the $250,000 True North Handicap (G2) for three-year-olds and up at six furlongs, the $400,000 Just A Game Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at a mile on the Widener turf, the $300,000 Acorn (G1) for three-year-old fillies at a mile, the $250,000 Woody Stephens (G2) for three-year-olds at seven furlongs, and the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (G1) for three-year-olds and up, one mile and a quarter, inner turf course.

Live Horse Betting Lines