Belmont Stakes Preview: Post Time, Post Positions, Betting Odds, and TV Schedule

Belmont Stakes Preview: Mine That Bird is the Word

The Belmont odds are here and there is, pardon the pun, a lot at stake. Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra won’t run and that opens the door up for what should be a tightly matched field. Switching from his Preakness-winning horse back to his Kentucky Derby-winning horse, Mine That Bird, can jockey Calvin Borel take the Triple Crown?

Before we take a look at some Belmont contestants generating buzz at the racebook, let’s take a quick look at the particulars for the race, including the post time and TV schedule, and the post positions and odds:

• What: Belmont Stakes
• Date: Saturday, June 6th
• Location: Belmont Park in Elmont New York
• Post Time: 6:27 PM ET
• TV Schedule: Belmont Stakes TV coverage begins at 5:00 on ABC
• History: Belmont Stakes History and Past Champions
• Belmont Stakes Betting: Click here to jump to the BetOnline.com Racebook

Now that we’ve looked at the Belmont Stakes post time and post positions, let’s look at a few of the top contenders and their odds for winning the 2009 Belmont Stakes.

THE CONTENDERS

Mine That Bird
Belmont Stakes odds: 2 to 1

No surprise here. He won the Derby and his style – hanging back in the pack and making a late charge – is perfectly suited to the Belmont, which is the longest of the Triple Crown tracks. In fact, he may have caught Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness had the distance been longer. With jockey Borel riding him in hopes of achieving personal glory, Mine That Bird is the clear-cut favorite for those betting online.

Charitable Man
Belmont Stakes odds: 3 to 1

If Mine That Bid is the consensus favorite, Charitable Man is the consensus No. 1 challenger. The speedy horse is three-for-three on dirt and two-for-two at Belmont, so he has the potential to leave the field in the dust this Saturday. He’s never run a race this long, though; will he have the stamina?

THE SOLID PICKS

Dunkirk
Belmont Stakes odds: 4 to 1

On one hand, he hasn’t stepped up to the plate in big races this season; he finished 11th at the Kentucky Derby and didn’t run the Preakness. However, he has great stamina and could contend since he should run most of the race at full speed.

Chocolate Candy
Belmont Stakes odds: 10 to 1

If you want an “educated” pick yet still want a shot at winning pretty good money, Chocolate Candy may be your horse. He was a respectable fifth at the Kentucky Derby and has two stakes race wins this season. He can also handle the Belmont distance, so you shouldn’t forget about him when betting online.

THE LONG SHOT

Miner’s Escape
Belmont Stakes odds: 15 to 1

Don’t laugh! No one ever imagined that Mine That Bird would take the Derby, so it’s reasonable to take a long look at Miner’s Escape. His owner/trainer tandem of Robert LaPenta and Nick Zito guided their horse Da’Tara to the win at last year’s Belmont odds, so they know what they’re doing here. Miner’s Escape also won his last race, so he may be the best “swing for the fences” pick in Belmont betting.

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