Belmont Stakes - Top Four Contenders to Mine That Bird

The third jewel in the Triple Crown, the 2009 Belmont Stakes, is finally upon us. Mine That Bird, the Kentucky Derby winner, no doubt will be a huge favorite in this highly anticipated race. Adding to the excitement is the number of storylines going into Saturday’s Stakes.

After all, he followed up his terrific Derby score with an equally impressive second place finish to superstar filly, Rachel Alexandra. Not only that, but Rachel won’t be running in the Belmont which frees up Calvin Borel to board Mine That Bird.

With all of the talk regarding Borel’s chance to be the first jockey to win the Triple Crown aboard two different horses, the real reason for horseplayers to watch the race, that is to find a winner and make profits, has been lost.

BetUS online racebook betting fans better not have forgotten! The truth is that Mine That Bird was a huge long shot to win the Derby. Would it be a big surprise to see him get beat this Saturday?

I don’t think so which is why I’ve come up with the top four betting interests, all going off at fair odds in the sportsbook, to beat Mine That Bird for the Belmont Stakes trophy.

Belmont Stakes: Top Four Contenders to Mine That Bird

1. Charitable Man +350 - - The son of Lemon Drop Kid is really coming into his own. Not only did he win the Peter Pan Stakes going 1 1/8th miles over the Belmont Park racing strip, he also won the Grade II Futurity as a 2 year old over the racing strip. New York is pretty much his home, save for a terrible run over the Polytrack in the Grade I Bluegrass, Charitable Man would be undefeated going into Saturday’s race. He’s a serious contender based on the expected pace as well as Charitable Man will be tracking or leading from the outset. Mine That Bird will have to run this guy down for the win money.

2. Mr. Hot Stuff +2200 - - His Kentucky Derby was absolutely, almost alarmingly, awful, but look at his work pattern going into the Belmont and suddenly bettors might be impressed enough to put some money on him. Because he’s out of Tiznow, he should improve on the dirt, his Derby run not withstanding, and he comes out of the barn of Eoin Harty who has a brilliant horse trainer’s mind. Not only that, but Mr. Hot Stuff gets Mr. Belmont himself, Edgar Prado, to take the call. This guy is well worth a look at 22 to 1 and will be in the garden spot turning for home. His half-brother, D’Tara, won the Belmont Stakes in 2008.

3. Summer Bird +1800 - - There’s a reason this horse’s odds have dropped in the Sportsbook steadily for about a week. He’s good. Or, he should be better than he was in the Kentucky Derby. Okay, he should be better on Saturday than he ever has before. Like Mine That Bird, he was sired by Birdstone. That means the 1 ½ mile trip shouldn’t be an issue. Like Mine That Bird, he’s a closer who has the ability to explode on the racetrack like he did in the Arkansas Derby when trying to run down Papa Clem and Old Fashioned. Unlike Mine That Bird, Summer Bird had to take the overland route in the Kentucky Derby, going 7 wide to finish 6th by 13 lengths, while Mine That Bird got through on the rail. Of course, nobody knows what would have happened if the positions had been reversed, but Summer Bird’s chances shouldn’t be tossed as he has had ample time to rest for this race.