Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and jockey Calvin Borel will headline a field of 11 entries at the Belmont Stakes, on Saturday, June 6 – the oldest Triple Crown race – that has been contested nearly every year since 1867.
Mine That Bird, which finished second in the Preakness Stakes to Rachel Alexandra, will not have to compete with the filly on Saturday. Having won at Pimlico by one length on May 16, she will be rested, according to co-owner Jess Jackson.
“We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes – we feel the same,” Jackson said in a statement on Friday. “But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her. While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation.”
Rachel Alexandra’s absence has another implication that might prove to benefit Mine That Bird. Her Preakness Stakes jockey, who rode Mine that Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby, will now return to his original horse in the final Triple Crown leg. If Calvin Borel wins a third time this year, he will become the first jockey ever to do so aboard different horses.
“Now that this decision is made, I am excited to come to New York and ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes,” Borel said in a statement.
Another factor appearing to favor Borel’s mount is the length of the Belmont track. At 12 furlongs (1.5 miles), it is easily the longest of the three major races, and Mine that Bird has looked increasingly comfortable at longer distances.
Few have forgotten the come-from-behind element of the gelding’s Kentucky Derby (10 furlongs) win; few failed to notice that a few more lengths would have likely seen him pass Rachel Alexandra at the end of the Preakness Stakes (9.5 furlongs).
There are other horses, however, that will enjoy the distance at Belmont. Charitable Man and Dunkirk – likely the best and second-best bets to upset Borel’s Triple Crown of sorts – looked comfortable in Saturday’s preparatory works, respectively running half-miles in 49.00 and 49.57 seconds.
Charitable Man, winner of the Grade III Peter Pan Stakes on May 9 has raced only lightly and has the pedigree to back up such a feat – He is the son of Lemon Drop Kid, winner of the 1999 Belmont Stakes.
Mine that Bird’s sire (or father), Birdstone, won at Belmont in 2004.
