Flying Private and Luv Gov are long shots for tomorrow’s running of the 141st Belmont Stakes. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will try and shut down the Belmont Stakes wagering odds as he tries for his fifth Belmont title and Triple Crown history with 14 wins. Flying Private is Lukas’s real shot at winning the Belmont, he can go the distance and Lukas has a history of winning with long shots in the Belmont Stakes. SBG Global Sportsbook posts +1200 Belmont odds on Flying Private and +2000 Belmont odds on Luv Gov.
 
Flying Private finished last in the Kentucky Derby but bounced back with a solid fourth in the Preakness Stakes. Belmont betting favorite Mine That Bird and Flying Private are the only two horses to run in all three Triple Crown races this year. Luv Gov is coming off an 8^th place finish in the Preakness and didn’t look that great in that performance. Between them, Luv Gov and Flying Private are a combined 2 for 23 so it would be a major shock to see either of them in the winner’s circle on Saturday in the Belmont Stakes.

The one thing Luv Gov and Flying Private have in their favor is Lukas. He won the Belmont Stakes with talented horses like Tabasco Cat in 1994 and Thunder Gulch in 1995 but he also won with Editor’s Note in 1996 and longshot Commendable in 2000. "We’ve won this race before with horses no one gave a shot to," Lukas said. "We knew they were developing horses coming into the race at the right time and the right way."

Wager on the Belmont Stakes at SBG Global.

Lukas believes that the key to winning the Belmont is to have a horse with the right running style. "All of them can run a mile-and-a-half," Lukas said. "Some take a little longer. There’s a gut-check with the pedigree. We think we have a couple of horses that fit that mould to, at least in my opinion, be competitive."

Lukas is tied for fifth place all-time in Belmont wins with Max Hirsch and R.W. Walden. James Rowe is the Top winner in terms of Belmont victories among trainers with eight followed by Sam Hendreth with seven, Jim Fitzsimmons with six, and Woody Stephens with five.

The Belmont Stakes odds regarding Rachel Alexandra racing this Saturday have been determined. The Preakness and Derby Oats winner will not be running in the third crown jewel 141st Belmont Stakes. Now the sports wagering focus turns to jockey Calvin Borel as he tries to do be the first jockey to win the Triple Crown aboard two different horses. He won with Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird and with Rachel Alexandra he took the Preakness. He decided to get back on Mine That Bird for the Belmont. "Now that the decision is made, I am excited to come to New York and ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes." Borel mentioned.

Mine That Bird is going to be a solid favorite in Belmont Stakes Odds and that might put a little added pressure on Borel. Recent history might not be on Borel’s side either as Belmont Stakes favorites have been a bust recently, including last years’ favorite Big Brown.

Mine That Bird is a big closer but that type of horse rarely wins the Belmont. A horse with tactical speed does far better in Belmont Stakes wagering odds. In the last 30 years, 27 of the 30 winners were within two lengths of the leader at the top of the stretch. That does not bode well for Mine That Bird who has come from the clouds in both the Derby and the Preakness. "If you look at previous Belmonts, the horses closer to the pace tend to win," trainer Chip Woolley said, "People think just because it’s longer it will suit my horse better but history says you need to be closer to the pace so he’s got his work cut out for him. But as far as changing his style, we’re not going to do that. If you change his style he’s not going to finish and I’d rather be finishing than stopping."

Wager on the 2009 Belmont Stakes at SBGGlobal.com.

The key to winning at the Belmont is timing everything just right which is where Borel will come into play. "Not only is getting the timing right key but knowing where you are in the race and how much you have to make up is crucial because the track is so much deeper," Woolley said. "If you push the button too early, you sure can come up empty at the wire.” Not all deep closers have failed either, as in 2006 it was Jazil rallying to win after sitting last early in the race.