We’re a little more than a week away from the Belmont, and there are still many questions to answer.

Will Rachel Run?

Will Calvin Ride?

Will D Wayne win his fifth?

As of today, these questions and more are stirring up interest in the race and frustrating writers and bettors both!

Foremost of course is the nagging question of “Rachal Alexandra” (the filly that won the Preakness), but her connections have been quiet on the subject of the Belmont. The only comments so far have sounded like there’s little chance of her starting. Johnson has hinted at there being a fitness problem; as in “we have to think of her first” and that sort of thing.

My guess is that she will NOT run.

It’s pretty certain that “Mine That Bird” will run in the Belmont. But the question still remains; Who will ride him?

“Chip” Woolley is four days PAST his own deadline for naming his horse’s rider but with no answer to the question as yet.

Calvin Borel who rode the horse to victory in the Kentucky Derby will probably get the assignment. He’s been waiting to learn about the filly’s entry - but has been left hanging like the rest of us (he did say he preferred to ride the filly again).

He will be able to go down in history as the first jockey to ever win the Triple Crown… on DIFFERENT horses! Whether he rides “Rachel Alexandra” or “Mine That Bird” is yet to be determined, but either way, he could win the Belmont. He rode 25 horses at Churchill Downs this past weekend and won 14 of those races! He’s beyond HOT right now!

D Wayne Lucas used to “own” this race. He won it 3 years in a row (94 - 96) and then he won it again in 2000! He’s got two horses that will probably be in this year’s Belmont Stakes; “Flying Private” (4th in the Preakness and Last in the Kentucky Derby) and “Luv Gov” (8th in the Preakness). So, he’s back with a vengeance!

Stay Tuned…