2009 Belmont Stakes
The 2009 Belmont Stakes was the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes. The race took place on June 6, 2009,[1] and was televised on ABC and ESPN360. The value of the race was $1,000,000 in stakes.[2] Post time was 6:19 p.m. EST. As the final jewel in the Triple Crown, this year's event was run without the elusive championship at stake as 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was defeated in the Preakness. The attendance at Belmont Park was 52,861.[3]
Summer Bird closed stoutly in the stretch and was victorious over Dunkirk and Mine That Bird, who battled on for the minor placings.
Pre-race announcements
After winning the Preakness, connections of winner Rachel Alexandra were not committed to the race.[4] With a week before the race they decided not to enter the filly.[5]
Among the possible challengers to Mine That Bird are Summer Bird, who shares the same sire—Birdstone, and Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Luv Gov, Miner’s Escape, Mr. Hot Stuff and Nowhere To Hide.[6]
Results
| Results | Post | Horse | Stakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 4 | Summer Bird | $600,000 |
| Place | 2 | Dunkirk | $200,000 |
| Show | 7 | Mine That Bird | $100,000 |
| Fourth | 6 | Charitable Man | $50,000 |
| Fifth | 5 | Luv Gov | $30,000 |
- Margins – 2¾ lengths, Neck
- Time – 2:27.54
- Track – Fast
- All other runners received $4,000 in stakes
- There was an inquiry filed by Charitable Man’s jockey Alan Garcia against Dunkirk for interference, but it was disallowed by the racing stewards[3]
Payout
$2 prices:[2]
| Post | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Summer Bird | $25.40 | $9.30 | $4.70 |
| 2 | Dunkirk | $5.40 | $3.60 | |
| 7 | Mine That Bird | $2.60 |
- $1 Exacta (4-2): $121.00
- $1 Trifecta (4-2-7): $295.00
- $1 Superfecta (4-2-7-6): $852.00
The Field
The draw for The Belmont Stakes was done on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.[7] Mine That Bird was made the morning line 2-1 favorite[7] and tried to become the 61st favorite to win and the first since Afleet Alex in 2005.[7]
| Post | Horse name | Trainer | Jockey | Opening Odds | Starting Odds[2] | Finishing Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chocolate Candy | Jerry Hollendorfer | Garrett Gomez | 10-1 | 9.50 | 9 |
| 2 | Dunkirk | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | 4-1 | 4.60 | 2 |
| 3 | Mr. Hot Stuff | Eoin Harty | Edgar Prado | 15-1 | 22.60 | 8 |
| 4 | Summer Bird | Tim Ice | Kent Desormeaux | 12-1 | 11.90 | 1 |
| 5 | Luv Gov | D. Wayne Lukas | Miguel Mena | 20-1 | 22.40 | 5 |
| 6 | Charitable Man | Kiaran McLaughlin | Alan Garcia | 3-1 | 4.60 | 4 |
| 7 | Mine That Bird | Bennie L. Woolley, Jr. | Calvin Borel | 2-1 | 1.25 | 3 |
| 8 | Flying Private | D. Wayne Lukas | Julien Leparoux | 12-1 | 17.30 | 6 |
| 9 | Miner's Escape | Nick Zito | Jose Lezcano | 15-1 | 22.00 | 10 |
| 10 | Brave Victory | Nick Zito | Rajiv Maragh | 15-1 | 27.50 | 7 |
Performance
- Winner Summer Bird never ran as a 2YO[3]
- First graded stakes victory for winning trainer Tim Ice[8]
- Attendance at Belmont Park dropped 44% from 2008 due to no Triple Crown contender[9]
- Second placed Dunkirk sustained a non-displaced condylar fracture of the left hind cannon bone.[10]
References
- ↑ http://www.nyra.com/Belmont/Stakes/Belmont.shtml
- 1 2 3 4 "Official Chart of 2009 Belmont Stakes" (PDF). Equibase. 2009-06-06. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- 1 2 3 Rosenblatt, Richard (2009-06-06). "It's a bird who wins Belmont _ Summer Bird!". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
- ↑ "Rachel Alexandra works out; no word on Belmont". Associated Press. 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ↑ Bailey, Steve (2009-05-30). "Rachel Alexandra out of Belmont Stakes". Thoroughbred Times. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- ↑ McMurray, Jeffrey (2009-05-30). "Preakness champ Rachel Alexandra won't run Belmont". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- 1 2 3 Angst, Frank (2009-06-03). "Mine That Bird leads ten-horse Belmont field". Thoroughbred Times. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
- ↑ Bailey, Steve (2009-06-06). "Summer Bird soars to Belmont upset". Thoroughbred Times. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ↑ "Belmont Stakes attendance, handle dip". Thoroughbred Times. 2009-06-06. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
- ↑ "Dunkirk sidelined with condylar fracture". Thoroughbred Times. 2009-06-09. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-09.