In a thrilling finish, a Bird won the 2009 Belmont Stakes, but it wasn't Mine That Bird.
Jockey Calvin Borel's historic bid to sweep the Triple Crown with two different horses was derailed, as Summer Bird upstaged the Kentucky Derby champ in the "Test of the Champion." Kent Desormeaux, the Hall of Fame jockey who was denied a victory at the 2008 Belmont Stakes, finds redemption in the end.
The complete order of finish is below:
1. Summer Bird -- Jockey: Kent Desormeaux -- Trainer: Tim Ice
2. Dunkirk -- Jockey: John Velazquez -- Trainer: Todd Pletcher
3. Mine That Bird -- Jockey: Calvin Borel -- Trainer: Bennie Woolley Jr.
4. Charitable Man -- Jockey: Alan Garcia -- Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
5. Luv Gov -- Jockey: Miguel Mena -- Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
6. Flying Private -- Jockey: Julien Leparoux -- Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
7. Brave Victory -- Jockey: Rajiv Maragh -- Trainer: Nick Zito
8. Mr. Hot Stuff -- Jockey: Edgar Prado -- Trainer: Eoin Harty
9. Chocolate Candy -- Jockey: Garrett Gomez -- Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
10. Miner's Escape -- Jockey: Jose Lezcano -- Trainer: Nick Zito
Belmont Stakes Photos
From left, Summer Bird ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Mine That Bird ridden by Calvin Borel, Charitable Man ridden by Alan Garcia, and Dunkirk ridden by John R. Velazquez race towards the finish during the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 6, 2009, in Elmont, N.Y. Summer Bird won the race. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
AP
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Summer Bird riden by Kent J. Desormeaux crosses the line first during the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kent J. Desormeaux
Getty Images
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Mine That Bird riden by Calvin Borel rides back to the mounting yard after finishing third during the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Calvin Borel
Getty Images
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Mine That Bird riden by Calvin Borel rides back to the mounting yard after finishing third during the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Calvin Borel
Getty Images
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Kent J. Desormeaux removes his goggles atop Summer Bird after winning the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kent J. Desormeaux
Getty Images
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Kent J. Desormeaux celebrates atop Summer Bird after winning the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kent J. Desormeaux
Getty Images
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Summer Bird #4 ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux wins the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes as Dunkirk #2 ridden by John Velasquez and Mine That Bird #7 ridden by Calvin Borel finish second and third at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Velasquez;Kent Desormeaux;Calvin Borel
Getty Images
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Kent J. Desormeaux celebrates atop Summer Bird after winning the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kent J. Desormeaux
Getty Images
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Kent J. Desormeaux celebrates atop Summer Bird after winning the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kent J. Desormeaux
Getty Images
ELMONT, NY - JUNE 06: Kent J. Desormeaux celebrates atop Summer Bird after winning the 141st Running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Racetrack on June 6, 2009 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kent J. Desormeaux
Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-06-2009 @ 3:04PM
eagiehart said...
Since he's from my home state, I'm rooting for Calvin Borel all the way! Go Calvin! Go Mine That Bird!
Lynn in Lafayett
Reply
6-06-2009 @ 5:53PM
Tom Russell said...
I rooting for Calvin cause his dad use to ride for me at Evangeline and Delta Cowns.
Tom
Reply
6-06-2009 @ 7:16PM
bdonate764 said...
Since 2 of the Triple Crown winners had bird names we can conclude that this years Triple Crown was for the birds !
Reply
6-06-2009 @ 7:18PM
figsline said...
I don't understand why the Belmont isn't a race for only those horses who ran both Kentucky Derby AND Preakness - like the playoffs- so you don't have horses coming in fresh without having to have run the other races and unleveling the playing field- They could have the top 10 from the stats for both races and then, in the event of a scratch, if early enough, the next eligible horse from these races is entered- No other sports venues allow a team to just come in at the end- it's a PLAYOFF
Reply
6-06-2009 @ 8:48PM
MPERL95 said...
Great Job!!!!!!!!!!! Kent Desormeaux,on Summer Bird.
I feel bad for Calvin Borel to win a triple crown jockey would have been great but Kent did great!
Reply
6-07-2009 @ 12:54PM
wmrios said...
God forbid, that l should go to any heaven, in which there are no horses!
Reply
6-07-2009 @ 3:30PM
AfleetTreet said...
Congrats to Summer Bird and jockey Kent Desormeaux!!! What a great closing run.
Sad for Calvin and Mine That Bird but no disrespect at all they ran a good race.
Kudos to Dunkirk who race a heckuva race! Nice ride by Johnny V.
Looking forward to seeing MTB and SB at the Breeder's Cup this year. Hoping to see Fabulous Strike return too. Whata race he won yesterday to hold off Benny The Bull after leading most the way.
:-)
Reply