Ten Set for Test of Champions
June 4, 2009 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Horses, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
A field of 10 has been drawn for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes , and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. Borel fits the late runner like a glove, but he is only 1 for his last 5 and is not the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Charitable Man is the 3-1 2nd choice, and the Peter Pan winner might get brave if able to sneak away early.
Dunkirk is next at 4-1, and the lightly raced $3.7 million colt flashed talent in Florida before finding trouble on the first Saturday in May.
Chocolate Candy looms the value play at 10-1. He is one of only three graded winners in the field, and he was hardly disgraced in 5th place Derby effort. He has the pedigree and reunites with Garrett Gomez, who booted him home to stakes tally at Hollywood late last year.
Summer Bird and Flying Private are sitting at 12-1. The former is a lightly raced late runner, while the latter is a bit of an iron horse making his 13th career start for Wayne Lukas.
Mr. Hot Stuff is 15-1, along with the Nick Zito duo of Miner’s Escape and Brave Victory .
Luv Gov rounds out the field at 20-1, and his 1-11 lifetime record hardly inspires confidence.
Image: Newscom
