Just running Triple Crown a tall task
The Triple Crown is a grueling five-week campaign that few horses go through nowadays. In fact, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Flying Private will be the only horses to race in the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes this year.
Mine That Bird (2-1) is a deserving morning-line favorite in the Belmont. His second-place finish in the Preakness to Rachel Alexandra actually earned him more respect than his long-shot Derby win.
The big Belmont story has been the reunion of Mine That Bird with jockey Calvin Borel. Borel won the Derby on him, then jumped off to ride Rachel Alexandra to win the Preakness. He returns to ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont and could become the first jockey to win the Triple Crown on two horses.
It won’t be easy. New shooters such as Peter Pan winner Charitable Man and well-rested Derby horses such as Dunkirk and Chocolate Candy lie in wait. Charitable Man is definitely the wise-guy horse, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he went off favored.
Dunkirk ran a brave second in the Florida Derby to Quality Road, a colt many considered to be the best 3-year-old this spring.
On paper, Charitable Man appears to be the lone speed horse. But I suspect two horses will go after him: Luv Gov and Miner’s Escape. Both long shots are running uncoupled with a stronger stablemate in Flying Private and Brave Victory. It would serve their trainers — D. Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito — well if Charitable Man could be softened up.
If that pace scenario occurs, I like Dunkirk. I can see Garrett Gomez sitting back on Dunkirk with Mine That Bird and Calvin Borel. Both will rally around the far turn, but I see Dunkirk having more kick left.
My selections for the Belmont are Dunkirk, Charitable Man, Mine That Bird and Flying Private.
• BELMONT SEMINARS — The M Resort race book will host a free Belmont Stakes seminar at 6 tonight with Ralph Siraco of “RaceDay Las Vegas” and Jerry Jacovitz of Jerry J’s Power Page.
• TWIN QUINELLAS — Two rich twin quinella wagers will be offered Saturday at Station Casinos ($10,000) and Lucky’s ($8,630).
Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.