As of this writing, Rachel Alexandra is still a no go for Belmont this Saturday.

You read it, and since we only have a few more days before the 141st Belmont Stakes gets going at Belmont Park in New York City, chances are, it’ll stay that way until raceday. That means, Mine That Bird should be the ULTIMATE, HEAVY FAVORITE, to win at Belmont Park. The thoroughbred, after all, won the 2009 Kentucky Derby before finishing second best at Pimlico.

Mine That Bird, if he wins the 2009 Belmont Stakes, will become only the 12th horse to complete the Derby – Belmont double and the first one since Thunder Gulch did it, 14 years ago in 1995.

Of course, there will be challengers and these horses should prove to be big ones.

One of which is Dunkirk. Dunkirk finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby in his last start, which was his fourth lifetime for trainer Todd Pletcher. He earned points for running style as he stalked the pace in his two wins, he has 4 starts as a 3-year-old, has topped the Beyer par of 106 with his 108 effort in the Florida Derby, and his dosage index is under 4. However he did not race as a 2-year-old, skipped the Preakness, did not have a sharp prep nor have any starts at Belmont Park, and he has points on the right side of his dosage profile.

Charitable Man, on the other hand, exits a 3 3/4 length win in the Peter Pan for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, earning him a sharp prep race at Belmont Park. His running style is a mid-pack stalk which is preferred, and his dosage is less than 4. On the negative side, he skipped the Preakness, only has 2 starts this year, he has not run a triple digit Beyer, and he has points to the right of the dosage profile.

Charitable Man won both his starts last year, a maiden special weight at Saratoga and the Futurity at Belmont in September. After that race, they found a saucer fracture in his shin which required surgery. After a seven – month lay-off, he started working out in early March. He made his first start of 2009 in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland where he never really was in the race and finished 7th beaten 7 3/4 lengths.

We also have Chocolate Candy. This horse went from 14/1 to 12/1 in the 2009 Belmont Stakes odds. The filly exits a 5th place finish in the Kentucky Derby beaten 13 lengths. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee can race in a stalking position has 4 starts this year with 2 stakes wins, and he qualifies with a low dosage index. However he skipped the Preakness, has too many starts as a juvenile, did not have a sharp prep race or any starts at Belmont Park, has a best Beyer figure of 94 in the Santa Anita Derby, and has points on the right side of the dosage profile.

Chocolate Candy last year won the Real Quiet Stakes and was 3rd in the Cash Call Futurity at Hollywood Park. Won the California Derby at Golden Gate for his 3-year-old debut and followed up with a win in the El Camino Real Derby. Went in the Santa Anita Derby for his final prep and finished a slow closing 2nd to Pioneerof the Nile by a length. In the Kentucky Derby, he was 17th early but rallied to finish 5th beaten 13 lengths.

Can Mine That Bird win the 141st Belmont Stakes? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Mine That Bird 1.67

Dunkirk 5.50

Charitable Man 4.50

Chocolate Candy 14.00

Flying Private 17.00

Mr Hot Stuff 21.00

Brave Victory 26.00

Miners Escape 31.00

Summer Bird 26.00

Luv Gov 41.00

Nowhere to Hide 51.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more Belmont Stakes betting odds. Want to watch the 141st Belmont Stakes live? Get sporting events tickets online now.

Mine That Bird Belmont Stakes