The 2009 Belmont Stakes was the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes. The race took place on June 6, 2009, and was televised on ABC and ESPN360. The value of the race was $1,000,000 in stakes. 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.
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. With a week before the race they decided not to enter the filly.
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.
Results
Results Post Horse Stakes Win 4Summer Bird$600,000 Place 2Dunkirk$200,000 Show 7Mine That Bird$100,000 Fourth 6Charitable Man$50,000 Fifth 5Luv 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
Payout $2 prices: Post Horse Win Place Show4Summer Bird$25.40$9.30$4.702Dunkirk$5.40$3.607Mine 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. Mine That Bird was made the morning line 2-1 favorite and tried to become the 61st favorite to win and the first since Afleet Alex in 2005.
PostHorse nameTrainerJockeyOpening OddsStarting OddsFinishing Pos.1Chocolate CandyJerry HollendorferGarrett Gomez10-19.5092DunkirkTodd PletcherJohn Velazquez4-14.6023Mr. Hot StuffEoin HartyEdgar Prado15-122.6084Summer BirdTim IceKent Desormeaux12-111.9015Luv GovD. Wayne LukasMiguel Mena20-122.4056Charitable ManKiaran McLaughlinAlan Garcia3-14.6047Mine That BirdBennie L. Woolley, Jr.Calvin Borel2-11.2538Flying PrivateD. Wayne LukasJulien Leparoux12-117.3069Miner's EscapeNick ZitoJose Lezcano15-122.001010Brave VictoryNick ZitoRajiv Maragh15-127.507
Performance Winner Summer Bird never ran as a 2YO First graded stakes victory for winning trainer Tim Ice Attendance at Belmont Park dropped 44% from 2008 due to no Triple Crown contender Second placed Dunkirk sustained a non-displaced condylar fracture of the left hind cannon bone.
References
External links Belmont Homepage