Ron Correll
Tracksideview.com
Senior columnist

Mine That Bird is a great little horse and except for the cold heart of a “woman” (Rachel Alexandra), he could be trying to become the 12th horse in history to win the Triple Crown on June 6 by taking the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

History will have to wait at least another year, but the gelded son of Birdstone is finally getting respect by being made the morning-line favorite (2-1) in the third jewel of the three most prestigious of races for 3-year-olds. Mine That Bird was sent off at 50-1 in the Kentucky Derby and 6-1 in the Preakness.

I didn’t pick Mine That Bird in the Derby, I went with Friesan Fire. I picked Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, so I’m 50-50 betting against the little bay that came out of the high mountains of New Mexico to upset the bluegrass of Kentucky.

I’m also going in a different direction in the Belmont and picking Charitable Man. Both Mine That Bird and Charitable Man were sired by Belmont Stakes winners. The aforementioned Birdstone won in 2004 when he stopped Smarty Jones’ attempt at immortality. Charitable Man is a son of Lemon Drop Kid who won in 1999. That win stopped Charismatic’s try to win the Triple Crown. Charitable Man also is unbeaten at Belmont Park.

The pace scenario in this Belmont will be a simple one. Miner’s Escape will be on the lead with Charitable Man sitting very close. If Miner’s Escape doesn’t go quickly enough, expect to see Charitable man on the lead. I think Charitable Man will be better suited to stalk.

We should see Chocolate Candy, Flying Private and Brave Victory in the next group. The backend will consist of Dunkirk, Mr. Hot Stuff, Summer Bird, Luv Gov and last should be Mine That Bird. I think this field will be grouped and it won’t be a strung out affair. But deep closers always worry me in the Belmont because sometimes jockey who haven’t ridden there a lot don’t know when to pull the trigger. The three-eighths pole still is a long way from home.

Calvin Borel is one of the those jockeys who doesn’t know Belmont Park very well. Mine That Bird has a great turn of foot as he displayed in the Derby, I just hope Borel doesn’t ask him too soon.

Charitable Man, Dunkirk, Summer Bird, Chocolate Candy and Mr. Hot Stuff are the fresh horses coming into the race. Dunkirk was eliminated in the Derby when he stumbled early and then had traffic problems. Summer Bird was a respectable sixth in the Derby and gets blinkers for the first time in his career and his connections may want him a lot closer this time. Chocolate Candy was immediately pointed to the Belmont after finishing fifth in the Derby and has been training in New York. Mr. Hot Stuff still is unproven on real dirt.

I wouldn’t have a problem using any of the last four on exotic tickets. You always can use a D. Wayne Lukas or Nick Zito horse in a superfecta and you get two chances with each trainer. Brave Victory (Zito) was third to Charitable Man in the Peter Pan on May 9 at Belmont Park.

I believe Alan Garcia and Charitable Man will make a bid for the lead at the quarter pole if they are not already on it by then. The “Birds” along with Dunkirk will make late runs, but I think Charitable Man will repel all comers to follow in his daddy’s footsteps.

Although I’m not picking Mine That Bird to win, we could be watching a horse that could be on the racing scene for years and be compared to some of the great geldings such as With Anticipation, Evening Attire and The Tin Man.

My trifecta will be Charitable Man, Mine That Bird and Summer Bird.

Belmont Stakes contenders, post-position and morning-line odds:

Post 1. Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride) was fifth in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Owned by Craig Family Trust (Jenny Craig). Colt worked four furlongs in 50.25 on June 1 at Belmont Park. Garrett Gomez will ride in the Belmont. Odds:10-1

Post 2. Dunkirk (Unbridled’s Song) was 11th in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Todd Pletcher. Owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier. Colt worked four furlongs in 49.57 on May 31 at Belmont Park. John Velazquez will ride. Odds: 4-1

Post 3. Mr. Hot Stuff (Tiznow)was 15th in the Derby. Trained by Eion Harty. Owned by WinStar Farm. Colt worked five furlongs in 1:00 flat on June 1 at Keeneland. Edgar Prado will ride. Odds: 15-1

Post 4. Summer Bird (Birdstone) was sixth in the Derby. Trained by Tim Ice. Owned by Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman. Colt worked five furlongs in 1:01.89 on May 30 at Belmont Park. Kent Desormeaux will ride. Odds: 12-1

Post 5. Luv Gov (Ten Most Wanted) eighth in the Preakness. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Owned by Marylou Whitney. Colt worked six furlongs in 1:12.40 on May 27 at Churchill Downs. Miguel Mena will ride Odds: 20-1

Post 6.  Charitable Man (Lemon Drop Kid) won the Peter Pan on May 9 at Belmont Park. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. Owned by William K. Warren. Colt worked four furlongs in 49 flat on May 31 at Belmont Park. Alan Garcia will ride. Odds: 3-1

Post 7. Mine that Bird (Birdstone) second in the Preakness. Trained by Chip Woolley. Owned by Double Eagle Ranch (Mark Allen) and Buena Suerte Equine (Leonard P. Blach). Colt worked four furlongs in 50 flat on June 1 at Churchill Downs. Calvin Borel will ride colt in Belmont Stakes after it was announced May 29 that Rachel Alexandra would not run in the race. Odds: 2-1

Post 8. Flying Private (Fusaichi Pegasus), fourth in the Preakness. Pointing toward the Belmont. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Owned by Robert Baker and William Mack. Colt worked six furlongs in 1:15.40 on May 27 at Churchill Downs. Julien Leparoux will ride. Odds: 12-1

Post 9. Miner’s Escape (Mineshaft) Won Federico Tesio Stakes on May 2 at Pimlico in Baltimore. Trained by Nick Zito. Owned by Robert LaPenta. Colt worked four furlongs in 48.66 on May 30 at Belmont Park. Jose Lezcano will ride. Odds: 15-1

Post 10. Brave Victory (Lion Heart) is owned by LaPenta and also trained by Zito. Colt worked four furlongs in 48.66 on May 30 at Belmont Park. Rajiv Maragh will ride. Odds: 15-1