BELMONT STAKES 2009 - Summer Bird

[AllyKat1236]

Darn summer bird! Mine That Bird could have been second again! And also Borel did move MTB too early! He should have waited just another furlong...you can tell that MTB was really pushing at the end. Dunkirk would have been done. You could tell by his stride that if Borel would have waited just a few more seconds it would have went differently.

[TheDarleyarabian]

am from england and iv just watched the triple crown races in order and it looked to me like mine that bird was very tired in the belmont from a great win in the derby and a long chase to try an catch rachel alexander in the preakness. thats y the triple crowns so special it takes a freak of a horse to win all three.

[afleetalex05]

Durkin could not have sounded more disappointed that Summer Bird won. He was all about Dunkirk and MTB.

[bnegs521]

Mine that bird's connections should not have let Calvin back on the horse after he jumped off it for the Preakness. Borel is a retard anyway. And he kept saying how slow they went up front when in fact the pace was a solid one set by Dunkirk. And when asked what happened he said "Oh Nothing" He moved MTB too early and was just making more excuses again.

[caliwaters88]

does anyone else think the commentator at 3:00 - 3:14 sounds like a complete goof, "... on the other bird..." i dunno i just busted when i heard that

[allbusiness777]

This is one of my all time favorite race because I analyzed the past performances thoroughly and concluded that Summer Bird should win it and what a GREAT THRILL it was when he took the lead in the stretch and won!

[faudreechris]

Happy for Kent

[DemonChinChilla355]

i was rooting for dunkirk, so close

[afleetalex05]

Give that race another quarter mile and Dunkirk would have RAN HIM DOWN. (:

[BigBrown2332]

@afleetalex05 *no

[mileymbclimb17]

No one was goign to beat Summer Bird here. This is his best distance

[XxemoxqueenxX]

Yeah even before I heard the post-race comments I was about to say that I think Mine That Bird's move was too early. And it kind of looks like he semi-tripped down the line. Oh well still love that boy!

[cmcgarth1O]

mine that bird had no excuses and blatently didnt stay, summer bird won by defualt cause no one else in the race actually stayed 12f

[BigBrown2332]

Well summer bird still proved that he could still beat some tough company. He beat Macho Again and Quality road and others. The time was good for this race i think a lot of these horses handled the distance,

[bnegs521]

@cmcgarth1O Borel moved him early that was his excuse.

[awesomeguy234564]

what if mine that bird's rider in the derby rode mine that bird for all 3 races? too bad we'll never know.

[Mogsthamisfit101]

Great result for Birdstone, siring both a Kentucky Derby Winner and a Belmont Winner in only his 2nd season.

[freddyblu22]

For Meadowlands harness racing thoughts and insights, hometrackadvantage com

[dessiesdoneit]

ma da told me i wont see another zarkava for 30 years. you cant buy experience haha zenyatta is good obviously but my confidence in the rip has just been increased....aiden obrien just mentioned a single horse, a single race and the word win the same sentance

[dessiesdoneit]

telling you yanks, get on rip van winkle and mastercraftsman

[mrr1980]

haha plez it aint gonna happen this year buddy boy. Zenyatta's gonna inhale them all!

[dessiesdoneit]

do you agree that rip van winkle has the best form

[kalandro14]

what? LOOOL

[dessiesdoneit]

his form with sea the stars was the best in the book, simples

Obviously he didnt translate his form without the drugs, and was too bad to be true so u put a line through his run

[CatzKr]

Amazing race indeed by Dunkirk.

[ZenyattaLuver]

It's A Shame He's Now Retired :(

[BigBrown2332]

@ZenyattaLuver  Who retired?

[ZenyattaLuver]

Dunkirk.

[BigBrown2332]

O I see, I thought you were talking about Summer Bird. Ya Dunkirk ran a terrific race, it is a shame.

[bnegs521]

@CatzKr I thought so too. tactics surprised me but he just missed there at the end.

[Mermaids094]

Summer Bird won by how many lengths?

[BigBrown2332]

I thinjk about 2 or 1 and 3 quarts

[ewd76]

31, although some say only 25

[spam1237]

he won by 5o lengths

[BlacknWhite232]

Its funny that Mine That Bird finished first in the derby, second in the prekness, and third in the belmont...

[bgardiner2000]

Yep had a long prep... definitely looked tired in this race... rider went too early as well.

[ericadelahunty]

i agree. moved waaay too soon for a mile and a half race. BY FAR--- dunkirk ran the best race!!! setting all the fractions and still battling back in the stretch with all that heart....not to mention by far he is so gorgeous.

way to go dunkirk.

[mrr1980]

Calvin moved too son and cost MINE THAT BIRD the race.

[ConnieAnn1]

I think maybe Horses are way smarter than we think..They have good days and bad days just like we Humans..SO my point, maybe we dont know anything at all about these beautiful animals..They run their race and who really knows whats in a horses Brain or Spirit.. They love to run, Usually

[TyAnthony88]

All four of my picks finished in the top 5. All behind Summer Bird. I thought Dunkirk would win.

[ConnieAnn1]

Calvin Did not move early..HE IS THE Jockey not Us..He knows what He is doing..We are not PROS or You would be in Calvins Mount..Mine T B is TIRED or was tired..He has been in 3-4 back to back..Hard on the horse..All 3 of them were in at the same time almost

[BigBrown2332]

I have to disagree with you just a bit. Yes he did move a tad early. If Calvin held him i think he might of come up like he did in the preakness. But Calvin went very good on this horse. Mine that bird went then because to he is used to a mile and 1/4 or shorter, he can handle the distance but the horse thought he was doing his job. And I no Calvin is a jockey, so was Jerry Bailey he said it was little early to. I think the farther back he is and the stronger the pace the better the horse is.

[ConnieAnn1]

Thanks for Your Kind reply..Maybe You are correct...I dont want any blame on him..He is dear to me for many reasons..I am not a pro either but I love horse races with good jockeys

[hptwiluvr5]

calvin shouldve waited just a bit longer, & he wouldve had it. but MTB is still an amazing horse, & that was a gr8 race. summer bird just came out of nowhere!

[javaqwe]

these birds are everywhere :D. Birdstone is stamping hisself as a great sire.

[dolcevitausa]

no kidding... wonder what his fee will be this coming breeding season....

[AmusiHorse]

lol i love that "DUNKIRK IS NOT DONE YET!"

[ashado19]

Tjjlm, this crop of 3 yr olds is way better than last years. MTB may never win another grade 1, who knows, but he sure is a good horse for finishing in the money in the TC races.

[martykate]

lRemember, no one thought much of Seabiscuit. He was just used as a moneymaker for Phipps Stables. But as a four year old he started showing people what he couuld really do. He had bad knees, a bad left fore, but he beat War Admiral in a match race and went on to become the leading money maker of his time. Never doubt the underdog (er, horse)--they may surprise you.

[javaqwe]

good race. Calvin moved way early on Mine That Bird but the winner was the best that day. Congrats to Kent!

[fame777]

Most Belmont's ( and I mean most , no all ) are won with the MTB move on the turn ( Easy Goer , AP Indy , etc ...I'm not a fan of MTB but not to many come from as far back down the stretch then SB ... Just the facts but don't let that get in the way

[martykate]

Dunkirk came out of this race with a condylar fracture of the left hind cannon bone. I'd rather see a horse not win and come out of the race sound, than be injured. The Belmont ruined the careers of Birdstone, Smarty Jones, Rags to Riches--they received injuries that prevented them from racing again. MTB came out of the race sound. So what if he finished third? He still finished in the money--$110,000.

[siroptimistic]

News has it that Dunkirk had surgery Tuesday. He is expected to make a full recovery and will be returning to racing this Fall. Very good news.

[tjjlm]

mtb will never win another grade 1 stakes race again. this race goes for all you people who swore up and down that if the preakness was longer he would have won. this goes to show you that every race is different he had 1 3/16 to win the preakness and failed then had 1 1/2 to win the belmont and failed if ra was in this race she would have won by 10 easily. if you want to see a real closer look at zenyatta and stop all that bullshit that mtb is some type of superhorse,this is a weak crop of 3s

[Maorisidol]

The jockey on MTB went wat too early, he could have followed the winner into the race, watch it again.

[siroptimistic]

Looks like Mine That Bird holds up at 2:42after accelerating forward, not wanting to pass Dunkirk. I think the horse made up its own mind to not give jockey Calvin Borel the win. The horse doesn't like Borel. The horse should be returned to his previous jockey Chantal Sutherland, who rode MTB to a number of victories at Woodbine Racetrack in 2008.

[ConnieAnn1]

Why do You think MTH does not like Calvin B?? IM just wondering..Calvin is great with most animals...I HAVE NOT seen Chantal ride MTB...2007 Street Sense bit Calvin didnt he?? WHY I wonder Och

[siroptimistic]

Perhaps I should have said there is no chemistry between MTB and Calvin Borel in this Belmont race. Borel didn't ride MTB at all during the week leading up to the Belmont because he was enjoying himself in Manhattan with his fiancee. He expected to win by just hopping on MTB on race day. As you say, horses are smart and MTB sensed no special relationship with Borel, that is why MTB didn't respond for Borel in this race.

[ConnieAnn1]

You know I was thinking Calvin was having fun in NewYork and it scared me..His mind was elsewhere and he may have lost his Focus just a tiny bit so look what happened...But I cant believe he didnt ride MTB for practice??NO WayI felt bad for Calvin as I really like what I see and feel of Him..

[siroptimistic]

News today that Calvin Borel has been ousted as jockey for Mine That Bird because he would not commit to riding MTB through the entire season leading up to the Breeders Cup in November. I could see that coming. Borel doesn't love MTB, and you have to love the horse you're riding to win repeartedly. At least trainer Chip Woolley was smart enough to make the decision. He should try to get jockey Chantal Sutherland who rode MTB to many wins as a two year old.

[flapgargle]

Borel ran one of the all timers in the Derby and suddenly he doesn't know the horse. Come on!!! Did you see him in Manhattan?? You are making huge jumps in conclusion. Borel probably should've waited longer. The last sixteenth at Belmont is a graveyard for potential Triple Crown winners. Real Quiet , Silver Charm, Smarty Jones to name a few. To simply say he didn't know the horse is ignorant.

[Nasaplt]

I never heard, did Dunkirk get disqualified for that fowl?

[Curlinroxs]

Nope! He ran a great race, and wasn't dq!

[siroptimistic]

Dunkirk ran a very gutsy and courageous race....leading most of the way and hanging on to finish second. A job well done.

[GretchErick]

now Wooley can't say anything about what mike smith did in the Preakness.... he was thinking that if Borel rode MTBird in the Preakness that he probably win that race....Mike Smith rode MTB perfectly in the Preakness, he found a way out and almost caught Rachel....if Mike Smith decided to ride MTB in the Belmont, he wins this race easily, he's got so much experience riding in Belmont...... I'm glad MTB did not win, so Wooley and Borel finally will be out of the spotlight......lol.....

[pennyondime95]

Kent the jockey of summerbird has use his professional riding carrer this time. Real Quiet is a big Mess for a triple crown History losing by less than an inch photo Finish.Its Look Like Kent Des.his Luck is coming back again..after losing Real Quiet in Belmont Stake.

[ElTemorDeAuga]

And also losing the Belmont on Big Brown...another unfortunate Almost Triple Crown (although not nearly as close as Real Quiet)

[Mia141414]

siroptimistic, he can't run in it again even before his birthday because all thoroughbreds doesn't matter when they're born has they're offical birthday on Jan 1st.

[2ndgradebull]

Terrible terrible ride on Mine That Bird

[bnegs521]

Yep. Borel moved way too early. This ones on him.

[jx22jx22]

this horse is an emerging superstar wish filly ran he would have kicked her ass too and i would have got21-1 instead of 11-1.rosier had no business riding this horse

[chevalover06]

not very likely, rachel is in a class of her own ;)

[jx22jx22]

no ZENYATTA

[jx22jx22]

zenyatta is in a class of her own

[chevalover06]

never said that Zenyatta wasn't in a class of her own jx22jx22

[gratefultiger]

perfect ride on the winner he just sat back and gobbled the sitting ducks up,jockey went too early on mine that bird.

great race tho.

[siroptimistic]

Hey...Mine That Bird has given us a lot of racing excitement so far this season. I hope the horse tries for the Triple Crown next year.

[Curlinroxs]

The triple crowns only for three year olds.

[siroptimistic]

Mine That Bird may be eligible to run for the Triple Crown next year because he just turned three years old last month on May 10th, which means he won the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009 as a two year old. If the Kentucky derby is run next year 2010 before his birthday on May 10th, Mine That Bird would be eligible to run in the race as a three year old.

[bnegs521]

Are you joking or just a moron ? A true horse racing dunce?

[Curlinroxs]

No, because all registered thoroughreds officially have there b-day on January 1st. By 2010 he'll officially be 4 and he would never be considered.

If you think about it, then it's a lot easier for horses to enter races like the Donn Handicap or Dubai World Cup that way, because since those races are for 4year olds and up, if MTB is still really three, he'll never have a chance to race in the biggest rae in the world that year, and he'd have to wait till he turned five the next year to enter it.

[bnegs521]

LOL! You know NOTHING about horse racing! Funny.

[siroptimistic]

You have to agree Mine That Bird had a great Triple Crown run with a first, a second, and a third place finish in the three races....which means he is the best athlete on the track so far this season. He ran a very strong race here in the Belmont even though on this day he didn't close the race as strongly as he usually does, but still strong enough to beat all other horses except two.

[dunskie]

It never happens the way it's "supposed to" at The Belmont.

That's why I love that race so much.

[cheeseandpotatos]

yeah but i feel so sad when the could win the triple crown but they don't like what happened to smarty jones but with affirmed he barley won & secrateriate how ever u spell his name made history!

[cheeseandpotatos]

and how rags to riches beat curlin hahaha! :) i was SO happy!

[TXRider]

I still though this was a FANTASTIC race, even though I am a huge MtB fan. He and his connections gave a hurting nation a ride it won't soon forget :) This horse has talent, he just got a ride from an overconfident jockey...I guess we all do it. :-/

[horseracingfans]

If her connections follow through with Rachel's Horse of the Year campaign, she should end up against open company in the Breeders Cup Classic, where Mine That Bird is also being pointed to.

[bnegs521]

That will be interesting to see who ends up in the clasic.I expect Mine That Bird maybe Summer Bird maybe Rachel too.

[Kostly]

Horse of the Year and probably this decade should be without a doubt, Zenyatta. She CRUSHES.

[mrr1980]

I think Zenyatta is the best horse but she will not win Horse Of The Year if her connections keep putting her in these ridiculously easy races...she should be running for the Gold Cup at Hollywood Park this weekend

[FanOBarbaro]

I agree, i think Zenyatta's good,but she won't win Horse Of The Year unless she races against the colts like Rachel has

[Mermaids094]

oh yea. you better believe she does! she's awesome!

[grizzles03]

Dunkirk ran a great race. He came again in a 1 1/2 race - he seems like he'll be the one to watch in the upcoming races this summer at Saratoga.

[kittykatluver101]

I wish mine that bird would've won.

[kekio00]

i'm glad he won, this guy really deserved it. congrats mr. summer bird ;)

[LuffXLuff]

I wish RA was in this but O well

[tuck1130]

None of this is remotely true. Post 7 going 1 1/2 miles is about as irrelevant as anything can be, especially when the horse is a closer like Mine That Bird. Borel took the horse to the back and over to the rail early just like he would've done from any other post position. 15 lengths he lost on the turn? LOL. That's comedic gold right there.

[shyztee]

No the name is Calvin Borel, not Burrell.

[SaintBlando]

no its calvin borel

[CecilySebastian]

Wow, what a day for Desormeaux!! He won the first four of the day consecutively and then the Belmont as well...awesome. I hate to say it but it didn't look like Mine That Bird was fighting Burell at all...Burell let him go too soon; he just plain out mis-rode that race. But good job anyway...thrilling race. I was pulling for Dunkirk; valiant push but WOW Summer Bird came from NOwhere! Awesome...!

[simpsonluva]

i still won $45 will dunkirk getting 2nd =]

[mtv030697]

i video taped that on my camcorder

[amedinaturner]

Se apuró mucho el jinete de Mine that bird, avanzó en plena curva lo que provoca mucho desgaste. Cambien el jinete.

[BraveSoccer]

Kent had some day yesterday. Experience won this race for sure. Great job Summer Bird and Desormeaux

[edg1970]

A quarterhorse? So you know what a quarterhorse is? And Rachel didn't "have trouble" with the Preakness distance. She won the freakin' race.

[animalfanatic19]

Woiw, I actually went for Summer Bird but missed this...I would have guessed that my guess as usual would end up dead last. Nice job Summer Bird!

[AmusiHorse]

OMG!!! summer bird came out of no were it was like POOF!!!and summer bird was a long shot! i was going for Mine That Bird.

[harrychainy]

Mine that bird should take this easy win...

boral just made a wrong decision of starting too early

[brainards1]

Great race!!!! Right down to the finish.

[chibiusa1992]

wow.

Rachel Alexandra didn't run....

I thought she was entered.

guess i was wrong.

[jonpisces]

"the OTHER BIRD". ahahahaha....

well, this goes to show that Birdstone is a good sire. quickly producing two Triple crown broods.

funny though, when i was looking at the line up, i kinda have this gut feel that Summer Bird will be the "pang dehado" for this race.

[animalfanatic19]

Same here. I had to leave. Looked at the line up, said, what the hell. Summer Bird it is. =) Too our surprise..haha

[SophieeLovesHorses]

Did the filly who won the preakness race in this race?

[lilcuda2]

no...

[animalfanatic19]

Nope. She's a quarterhorse. They were debating it, but I guess decided not to because she already had trouble with the distance of the preakness they figured she'd give out in this lengthy race.

[CardFreak1994]

if u actually watch dunkirk the whole way around u can tell that he had the race but didnt try at all i had 2-7 and if u thought about it i should have won but u know its not meant to be

[badumpy]

card freak...you have no clue about horseracing...by an idiotic statement you just made.

[guasabalon]

Great Race...!

MINE THAT BIRD give pay back to Calvin Borel...!

[Boomhauer43]

does anyone knows the max sentecing for assinating a horse

[clayton790]

If you were in Texas, you could be hanged....seriously.

[twtheisen]

Three great races (Derby, Preakness and Belmont) without any injuries is great to see.

Mine That Bird did good and so did Borel. Like Borel said, the leaders were running slow and MTB wanted to get moving a little too early.

MTB hit the lead too early and tried to chase down the wrong horse (Dunkirk instead of Summer Bird).

It would have been interesting to see how the race would have went if MTB stayed back a little longer and ran next to Summer Bird at the end.

Good Race!

[matty0915]

Thanks a lot for the Post!!!

I really appreciate this Post!!! I didn't get the TiVo to work, so thanks alot!!!.

-Matt.

[Boomhauer43]

miner's escape you bastard you let me down

[horsejumper0077]

it's a horse, he ran as best he could. let it go.

it's not his fault you lost your money, that would be yours :)

they all ran a great race though. what a finish! so close...

[Boomhauer43]

Im wasted all my colelge tution on Miner;s Escape.WHY did you do this to me Miner Escape? you had the race

[thekingisgone1]

lol. apparently college did do anything good for anyway. since you cant type.

[shyztee]

Lol. Apparently, school didn't do you any good period, since you can't type complete sentences!

[Boomhauer43]

apparently, coping off someone else got you through school

[clayton790]

boomhauer, grow up. its ok though, online community college doesn't cost that much so you didn't loose a lot.

[MalandAl4]

it was kinda retarded of you to put all your college savings on a horse. its a horse. just like you it has its good days and bad. by the sounds of it you only have bad though. oh well. better start buying lotto tickets. you may want to go back to basic statistics there bud.

[BRIANROESS]

when did miner escape have this race

[thekingisgone1]

Mine that Bird did the best he could...

still a good job but it breaks my heart he didnt win.

[thekingisgone1]

Great Job Mine That Bird.

it breaks my heart you didnt win, but

you still did good...get em next time!

[FlightSpeedAndHorses]

the longshots beat the original favorites...

luvin this ;0)

this year is totally one of the best. no mass injuries, no steroids, period :0)

thanks, i had to go to my brother's little league Baseball game :ol totally missed it

[continentalvictory]

I can hear it now: "If there was only a few more lengths, MTB would have won it!"

Just like after Preakness.

RA would have cakewalked here..

[kijuuki]

Don't know if RA would have got the distance here, but I guess we'll never know.

And I don't think that MtB could have got this race even if it was longer, since he moved so early he didn't have enough left at the end.

The 'Birds' have been my favorites so far this year.

[continentalvictory]

I agree... MTB is a very good horse with one move. Borel said he was a little rank here so he wasn't able to time that one move as well as in the Derby.

In watching the Preakness again, it's clear that RA can be used more tactically in a race than MTB... She has multiple moves, ie. speed duel with Big Drama followed by front-running at the top of the stretch followed by tough, determined finish when faced with a hard-charging, equally determined MTB.

[kijuuki]

She does have very good tactical speed. Very versatile horse and probably one of this year's best.

I like MtB because he's such a little guy, and a gelding too, he has a great story being such a cheap yearling, broken-legged trainer vanning him up from New Mexico :P

I'd really like to see the two go a mile and 1/4, a good distance for MtB, and not too far for her. Maybe in the BC classic :)

[vaxxon1]

Yup. That would be awesome. Considering how they raced here, it will be a treat.

[stifcac]

I knew the Bird would win...Summer Bird,if he got a good run in the Derby he would have won it, instead he went very wide.

[ragstoricheslover]

what was Dunkirk doing on the lead?

great race by Dunkirk!

wonderful job by SUmmer Bird!