Racetrack Lenny

Wrong Bird Wins Belmont

Yesterday's Belmont will be one of the more memorable ones for me simply because the way I thought the race would play out is pretty much how it unfolded. The end result was my saver bet on Summer Bird afforded a nice reward at 11.90/1. Had Mine That Bird hung on for 2nd, a nice exacta would have made for a very rewarding day. In any event, I collected more than I bet; so, that's a win.

In a race lacking speed, the experts were predicting that Charitable Man would go for the lead and go as far as he could. The same was predicted of Miner's Escape. Instead, it was stalker, Dunkirk, who changed tactics and went for the lead. And did he ever go for it! The opening quarter was 23-2/5ths and the half in 47, a very strong pace. I was sitting confident that my closers would save the day. At the far turn, Dunkirk continued his strong pace. Charitable Man & Mr. Hot Stuff, made a run at him; but, both began to wilt and Dunkirk was now joined by a fast coming Mine That Bird who was forced to go three wide to get into contention. Mine That Bird has a 1/2 length lead; but, somehow Dunkirk found another gear and remained a stubborn foe by coming on again in the stretch. What both horses didn't see was that jockey Kent Desormeaux had Summer Bird in 5th gear and he was closing powerfully with every stride. About 100 yards out, Summer Bird blew by and Mine That Bird had to settle for a heartbreaking 3rd as Dunkirk got 2nd by a little under a neck.

Dunkirk will need a rest now since the Belmont took a lot out of him. He had to be hosed down after the race since Dunkirk gave it all he had. For a horse to set the fractions he did and still finish 2nd was impressive. I didn't think he had it in him.

I felt bad, as did the crowd, for Calvin Borel. It would have been a great story for him to get his personal triple crown. He was gracious in defeat. However, you would have thought that Borel's agent or his trainer could have enticed an owner/trainer in one of the earlier races running a hopeless longshot to give Borel a mount just so he could get a feel for the track and know where things were. By not doing that, I believe Borel pushed the button too soon on Mine That Bird and the rest is history. Same thing happened in 2004 with Stewart Elliott on Smarty Jones. Doesn't anyone learn from past mistakes?

Well, it's now a waiting game for the Haskell at Monmouth and the Travers at Saratoga to see who turns up to keep this competitive year going.

May the horse be with you,

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 5:46 PM