Charitable Man a Virtual Lock to Win the Belmont

After the Belmont Stakes post positions were drawn yesterday, I immediately wrote up my Top Four Contenders' article for Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

 

It didn't take me very long to find the winner.  Without a doubt, Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird have a shot to win the Belmont Stakes but, like so many years in the past, the Belmont has come up lacking real front-runners.  The only two confirmed speed horses in the race are Miner's Escape, trained by Nick Zito who upset Big Brown with D'Tara in the 2008 Belmont, and Charitable Man.

 

Who wins in that matchup?  Charitable Man 99 out of 100 times.  The Keiren McLaughlin trainee is simply one of the best 3-year olds on the planet.  He should rate a length off of Miner's Escape, or take the lead, quickly after the gates open.  

 

By the time Charitable Man hits the to of the stretch, the race should be over.  Who could challenge Charitable Man for the win money?  The Todd Pletcher trained Dunkirk looks like a much better wager than Mine That Bird.  He will be closer to Charitable Man and, because of the expected pace, should have plenty int he tank for the last quarter mile.