Experience in Charitable Man's corner at Belmont
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mine That Bird jockey Calvin Borel has 'guaranteed' victory for the Kentucky Derby-winning gelding in the Belmont Stakes, but he is not the only confident character in Saturday's last leg of the Triple Crown.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin stopped short of predicting victory for his Charitable Man, second choice in the 10-horse field at 3-1, though he raved about his conditioning.
"I'm confident I have a horse who's doing great," said McLaughlin, who saddled Jazil to win the 2006 Belmont Stakes.
"I'm not that type to predict a horse is going to win. But I wouldn't trade places with anyone. I'm very excited."
Charitable Man, who won both his starts as a two-year-old, has familiarity in his corner having won the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont on May 9 and will be ridden by Alan Garcia, who was aboard last year's Belmont Stakes winner, Da'Tara.
Steady rain made for a sloppy track Friday though clearing conditions were forecast for Saturday's mile and a half race, longest of the Triple Crown series for three-year-olds.
Charitable Man, a son of 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid, galloped a mile and three-eighths in the morning.
Dunkirk, the early third choice at 4-1 behind Mine That Bird (2-1) and Charitable Man, galloped a mile and one-quarter on the main track before returning to trainer Todd Pletcher's barn.
Pletcher said he expected Dunkirk, a $3.7 million yearling purchase, to stalk expected front-runner Charitable Man.
"Hopefully, we'll be the first one to put pressure on Charitable Man," he said, aware that Mine That Bird also likes to run off the pace.
"I'll leave that to (jockey) Johnny Velazquez."
Dunkirk lost his chance at the Kentucky Derby when he stumbled twice within the first 50 yards and finished 11th.
"We just have to draw a line through the Derby," said Pletcher, who won the 2007 Belmont with filly Rags to Riches.
It is the first Belmont for Borel, gunning for a unique jockey Triple Crown. He followed his Churchill Downs victory by capturing the Preakness Stakes aboard filly Rachel Alexandra, who is skipping the Belmont.
It is also Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley's first time at Belmont. Aside from one hiccup, things have gone smoothly.
Woolley's truck was broken into in the early hours before he left Louisville, Kentucky, for New York this week.
"I think they wanted the GPS (global positioning system)," said Woolley. He still found his way to New York and is confident Mine That Bird can find his way to the finish in first place.
(Editing by Dave Thompson)
