Bird Flying Away on Early Belmont Race Gambling
With uncertainties still abounding regarding the makeup of the field, or as to which jockey will ride which horse, there's one thing Belmont race patrons are showing they are positive about. Mine That Bird is a huge favorite in early wagering, and would remain the horse to beat even if Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra runs.
Comments from the group controlling Alexandra make it seem likely the filly will skip the Belmont. Owners have indicated they feel vindicated by the Preakness win, and think they might be asking too much for the horse to return after a draining run in Maryland.
"She's not in top shape right now," said one of her owners, Jess Jackson, on Monday.
But Bird would still be a 4-5 pick even with Alexandra entered, while the filly would be a 5-2 choice. After all, Mine That Bird is the Little Horse That Could, able to come from behind the entire pack to win the Derby and almost duplicate the feat at the Preakness.
The Preakness is the shortest of the three Triple Crown races, favoring a sprinter like Rachel Alexandra. The Belmont, by contrast, is the longest, and built for a comeback machine like Bird.
Dunkirk comes in as the third selection, at 4-1, with Charitable Man and Chocolate Candy the next selections at 9-2 and 16-1, respectively.
Whether Rachel runs or not, Calvin Borel will get a shot at a jockey Triple Crown, as he'll likely revert to Bird with the filly's withdrawal. If he succeeds, it will mark the first time a jockey won the three races but a horse did not also sweep.
