Belmont Stakes Preview

Jockey: Calvin Borel
Trainer: Bennie Woolley Jr.

Much like trainer Richard Dutrow did last year with Big Brown, the Bird's jockey has already guaranteed victory. For some reason, I don't see that sparking as much vitriol around the backstretch this time around -- perhaps because Borel is riding a peculiar wave of goodwill right now. It was somewhat stunning that Mine That Bird's connections came back to him so quickly after he ditched them in Baltimore for the eventual race winner. But business is business, I suppose, and the man does know how to ride. His considerable skills figure to get a major test on Saturday in a race that looks to have no early pacesetters.