Jockey Borel bids for Triple Crown in Belmont

Jockey Calvin Borel will try to achieve an unprecedented personal Triple Crown sweep upon different horses Saturday when he tries to ride favorite Mine That Bird to victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is a 2-1 favorite for the 1 1/2-mile concluding race in the US equestrian Triple Crown after settling for second at the Preakness last month to Borel-ridden filly Rachel Alexandra.

Borel sparked 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird from last to victory at the Derby five weeks ago, then watched the horse make another late charge under jockey Mike Smith before settling for second to Borel aboard the filly.

While most US jockeys race in tune-up events the week before a major race upon dirt ovals, Borel is defying tradition by skipping prior Belmont races.

"I've ridden there lots of times," Borel said. "It's like any track. You just turn left."

Mine That Bird's story is unlike most, however. The horse won Canada's two-year-old title but was 0-for-2 as a three-year-old and dismissed as an also ran until his victory at Churchill Downs.

"This is a lot different than when we arrived at Churchill Downs," Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley said. "Nobody came to see me for the first week."

A field of 10 includes Charitable Man, a 3-1 second choice of oddsmakers that did not run the Kentucky Derby or Preakness, and Dunkirk, a 4-1 third choice that will start second from the rail under jockey John Velazquez.

Mine That Bird is a son of 2004 Belmont winner Birdstone. So is Summer Bird, which finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and will take the track Saturday as a 12-1 underdog ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Charitable Man trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, whose Jazil won the 2006 Belmont title, has a horse that is 2-for-2 at Belmont and unbeaten in three dirt starts.

"I wouldn't trade places with anyone," McLaughlin said. "He couldn't be doing any better."

Dunkirk was 11th in the Derby but trainer Todd Pletcher said a stumble at the start ruined the gray colt's chances

"I'm drawing a line through the Derby," Pletcher said. "I never felt he ran to his capabilities."

Pletcher's lone Triple Crown win came with filly Rags to Riches at the 2007 Belmont but he likes Dunkirk's chances after skipping the Preakness.

"He is training very well," Pletcher said. "He's put on some weight since the Derby. I stand by the fact he's a very high-quality horse."