• Win: 4 - Summer Bird -25.80 - 9.30 - 4.70
• Place: 2 - Dunkirk - 5.40 - 3.60
• Show: 7 - Mine That Bird - 2.60

• $2 Daily Double 5-4 152.50
• $2 Daily Double BROOKLYN-BELMONT 3/4 337.50
• $2 Exacta 4-2 121.00
• $2 Superfecta 4-2-7-6 852.00
• $2 Trifecta 4-2-7 295.00
• $2 Pick 3 2-5-4 (3 correct) 2,577.00
• $2 Pick 4 4-2-5-4 (4 correct) 17,085.00
• $2 Pick 6 6-7-4-2-5-4 (5 correct) 2,482.00
• $2 Pick 6 6-7-4-2-5-4 (6 correct) 969,345.00

Belmont Post Position and Odds

(Post Position - Horse - Trainer - Jockey - Odds)
• PP: 1 - Chocolate Candy - J. Hollendorfer - G.Gomez 10-1
• PP: 2 - Dunkirk - T. Pletcher - J.Velazquez 4-1
• PP: 3 - Mr. Hot Stuff - E. Harty - E.Prado 15-1
• PP: 4 - Summer Bird - T. Ice - K.Desormeaux 12-1
• PP: 5 - Luv Gov - D.W. Lukas - M.Mena 20-1
• PP: 6 - Charitable Man - K. McLaughlin - A.Garcia 3-1
• PP: 7 - Mine That Bird - B. Woolley Jr. - C.Borel 2-1
• PP: 8 - Flying Private - D.W. Lukas - J.Leparoux 12-1
• PP: 9 - Miner’s Escape - N. Zito - J.Lezcano 15-1
• PP: 10 - Brave Victory - N. Zito - R.Maragh 15-1

Ron Raymond’s Belmont Stakes Prediction

In my view, the Belmont Stakes race was built for closers and Mine That Bird is the best closer in this field on Saturday. In fact, look for Mine That Bird to explode at the ¾ pole and just fly down the stretch to win the Belmont Stakes. Plus, Borel knows this is the best horse in the field, that’s why he accepted the ride and look for him to hug the rail down the stretch, as he knows this horse. To be honest, I expect this race to look a lot like the Kentucky Derby, where Borel will let the other horses get the lead, make his move at the halfway mark and then fly down the stretch towards the insider rail.

The bad news, Mine that Bird should be the favorite, so he won’t pay much. Bet him to win and place like we did in the Preakness Stakes.

Belmont Stakes Review

In my view, the Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious horse race of them all, it’s the first big race of the season, nobody knows anything about any of the horses in the field and then once the winner crosses the wire, the love affair begins! That’s why you see such a big field for the Kentucky Derby, it’s like the Daytona 500, everybody thinks they have a shot at winning at the beginning and then once the horse wins the Derby, you see the field get smaller for the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.

When I handicap a horse race, I love to bet on the closers, because they give you a shot coming down the stretch. Mine that Bird rode a magnificent race at the Kentucky Derby with Calvin Borel on the mount, but Mike Smith wasn’t as lucky, as nobody wanted to let the #2 horse Mine that Bird sneak up to the rail, because they knew it would have been lights out! Rachel Alexandra ran a great race and is a well deserved champion and if you recall what Calvin Borel stated at the post race interview, the horse had more to give and didn’t get good gripping. Pretty scary when you think about it, but with an extra 3 furlongs or so, would Mine that Bird won the race had it been the Belmont?

The Preakness is 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs); whereas the Belmont Stakes is 1½ miles (12 furlongs) and the way Mine that Bird closed in on Rachel Alexandra at the Preakness, I’ve got an early lean towards Mine that Bird because of his closing talents.

However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned betting on horses, never under estimate D.Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito. These guys are party poopers and have been known to crash a few parties with some late entry horses. In fact, Zito spoiled Big Brown’s party last year, as Da' Tara won the Belmont and in 2004 Birdstone with Edgar Prado on the ride took away everybody’s Triple Crown dreams for Smarty Jones, as Birdstone won and earned $1,575,600 on that day.

How to Bet on the 2009 Belmont Stakes Step 1: Open a betting account at Bookmaker.com Step 2: Fund your account with your credit card. Step 3: Once logged in, click on “Racebook” in the top left hand corner. Step 4: Select Track: Belmont Step 5: Go to race #12 Step 6: Make your bet and confirm it!

Potential Belmont Stakes Entries

Horse Trainer Last race Finish
• Brave Victory Nick Zito Peter Pan 3rd
• Charitable Man Kiaran McLaughlin Peter Pan 1st
• Chocolate Candy Jerry Hollendorfer Kentucky Derby 5th
• Dunkirk Todd Pletcher Kentucky Derby 10th
• Flying Private D. Wayne Lukas Preakness 4th
• Luv Gov D. Wayne Lukas Preakness 8th
• Mine That Bird Bennie Woolley Jr. Preakness 2nd
• Miner’s Escape Nick Zito Federico Tesio 1st
• Mr. Hot Stuff Eoin Harty Kentucky Derby 15th
• Rachel Alexandra Steve Asmussen Preakness 1st
• Summer Bird Tim Ice Kentucky Derby 6th

Belmont Stakes Odds

• 1. Big Brown 2-5
• 2. Guadalcanal 50-1
• 3. Macho Again 20-1
• 4. Denis of Cork 12-1
• 5. Casino Drive 7-2
• 6. Da’tara 30-1
• 7. Tale of Ekati 20-1
• 8. Anak Nakal 30-1
• 9. Ready’s Echo 30-1
• 10. Icabad Crane 20-1

Past 20 Belmont Stakes Winners

'97 Belmont winner Touch Gold

Year - Winner - Jockey - Trainer - Owner - Time
• 2008 Da' Tara - Alan Garcia Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta 2:29.65
• 2007 Rags to Riches - John Velazquez Todd Pletcher M. Tabor & D. Smith 2:28.74
• 2006 Jazil Fernando - Jara Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Farm 2:27.81
• 2005 Afleet - Alex Jeremy Rose Tim Ritchey Cash is King LLC 2:28.75
• 2004 Birdstone - Edgar Prado Nick Zito Marylou Whitney Stables 2:27.50
• 2003 Empire Maker - Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 2:28.26
• 2002 Sarava - Edgar Prado Kenneth McPeek New Phoenix Stable 2:29.71
• 2001 Point Given - Gary Stevens Bob Baffert The Thoroughbred Corp. 2:26.80
• 2000 Commendable - Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Bob & Beverly Lewis 2:31.20
• 1999 Lemon Drop Kid - Jose Santos Scotty Schulhofer Jeanne G. Vance 2:27.80
• 1998 Victory Gallop - Gary Stevens W. Elliott Walden Prestonwood Farm 2:29.00
• 1997 Touch Gold - Chris McCarron David Hofmans Frank Stronach 2:28.80
• 1996 Editor's Note - Rene R. Douglas D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 2:28.80
• 1995 Thunder Gulch - Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor 2:32.00
• 1994 Tabasco Cat - Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Reynolds/Overbrook 2:26.80
• 1993 Colonial Affair - Julie Krone Scotty Schulhofer Centennial Farms 2:29.80
• 1992 A.P. Indy - Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Tomonori Tsurumaki 2:26.00
• 1991 Hansel - Jerry Bailey Frank L. Brothers Lazy Lane Farm 2:28.00
• 1990 Go And Go - Michael Kinane Dermot K. Weld Moyglare Stud Farm 2:27.20
• 1989 Easy Goer - Pat Day C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps 2:26.00