Charitable Man a 'Go' for Belmont; Brave Victory added to mix
William K. Warren’s Charitable Man, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan, will start in the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Wednesday.
“I spoke with Mr. Warren this afternoon, and we’re running,” said McLaughlin. “The pros outweighed the cons, and there were very few cons. I have nothing but respect for Rachel Alexandra, if she comes, and Mine That Bird, but Charitable Man is doing great. He’s bred to go a mile-and-a-half, he’s two-for-two on the track, and he’s a fresh horse.”
Charitable Man, a son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid, finished seventh in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in his first start as a three-year-old and won both his starts in 2008 including the Grade 2 Futurity.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito and owner Robert V. LaPenta, who teamed to win last year’s Belmont Stakes with Da’ Tara, will have two starters in the 1 ½-mile Belmont – Miner’s Escape and Brave Victory.
“They’ll both work either tomorrow, Friday or Saturday,” said Zito, who also won the 2004 Belmont with Birdstone.
Brave Victory, a son of Lion Heart, most recently finished third in the Grade 2 Peter Pan behind Charitable Man and Imperial Council. Earlier this year, he won an allowance at Gulfstream Park, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Swale, also at Gulfstream, and then seventh over an artificial surface at Keeneland in the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes.
Miner’s Escape, a son of Mineshaft, most recently won the Frederico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico on May 2 after having broken his maiden in his previous start on March 14 at Gulfstream Park.
WinStar Farm LLC’s Mr. Hot Stuff, considered a possible starter for the Belmont Stakes, on Saturday, June 6, breezed a half-mile in 49.80 this morning on the fast PolyTrack at Keeneland.
Possible starters for the Belmont Stakes now are Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Miner’s Escape, Mr. Hot Stuff and Summer Bird.