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Mine That Bird Favorite for 2009 Belmont Stakes - 06-05-09
 June 5 - While beloved colt Big Brown played the lead in last year's U.S. Triple Crown of races, the three leads from America's top three races this year are gelding Mine That Bird, his trainer Bennie 'Chip' Woolley, Jr and champion jockey Calvin Borel, each of whom has a big stake in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.
The exciting saga started in early May this year, when the largely unknown New Mexico-based Woolley personally transported the equally unknown Mine That Bird to Churchill Downs in Louisville for the 135th Kentucky Derby - as a late entry. With Borel set to ride him, Mine That Bird was a 50-1 longshot.
And for punters that were wise - or idiotic - enough to bet on Mine That Bird to win, this Derby will be one they'll never forget. Entering the final straight from close to the back of the field, Borel put the gelding into overdrive and speedily weaved his way through the field to sprint cross the line first by at least 6 lengths.
Touted as one of the biggest upsets in American horseracing history, the unexpected victory thrust Mine That Bird, Woolley and Borel firmly into the limelight, as everyone wanted to know more about the unlikely Derby winners. And so expectations were high for a repeat win in May's Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.
However, the fans of the sport were in for another shock when Borel took the unprecedented step of turning down a ride on Mine That Bird in the Preakness for undefeated filly, Rachel Alexandra. Instead, Mike Smith rode the gelding in the race, who steered him to a second place finish behind Rachel Alexandra.
The next big question on everyone's mind was whether Rachel Alexandra would run in tomorrow's Belmont Stakes, but her connections decided to give her a break instead. This was great news for Woolley, who immediately snapped up Borel to ride Mine That Bird in the third and final leg of the U.S. Triple Crown.
So, come tomorrow at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, horseracing fans across America will watch to see if the threesome can pull off a win another jaw-dropping win in the 2009 Preakness Stakes. If they do pull it off, it will mark an end to one of the most exciting Triple Crown campaigns in recent years.
Here are the latest odds for the 09 Preakness Stakes as laid down by leading online sport betting site, Bodog:
1. Mine That Bird - 2.33
2. Dunkirk - 5.50
3. Charitable Man - 4.33
4. Chocolate Candy - 11
5. Flying Private - 16
6. Mr Hot Stuff - 16
7. Brave Victory - 21
8. Miners Escape - 21
9. Summer Bird - 13
10. Luv Gov - 26
Other Articles:
Summer Bird Delivers Win in Belmont Stakes - 06-08-09New CEO for Youbet - 06-08-09Top Kiwi Jockey Suspended on Drug Charges - 06-07-09Manhattan Handicap Picks and Betting Preview - 06-06-09Crowded House Cleared For 09 Epsom Derby - 06-04-09Sariska Betfair Favorite in Epsom Oaks - 06-03-09Vincent O'Brien Dies Aged 92 - 06-02-09Rachel Alexander Will Not Run in Belmont Stakes - 06-01-09
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Digiturf - Train and race your own horses |
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| | 2009/11/20 11:35:17 AM |
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