ELMONT, N.Y. (BASN/BASN NEWSROOM) — The 141st running of the Belmont was punctuated with a promise that the son of a former Belmont winner would win. Brother, have I got news for you!

First, the good news – Summer Bird, with Kent Desormeaux in the irons, charged down the backstretch with a run that would’ve made his daddy (Birdstone, upset winner of the 2004 Belmont and spoiler of Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown aspirations) proud, ringing the tote board at 12-1 odds (Summer Bird paid $25.80 to win).

Now, the bad news: Mine That Bird, the plucky little colt piloted by Calvin Borel, did not get the rail to operate with this time. ‘Bird made a sweeping, four – wide move early which brought him to the front at the top of the stretch; only to have his “brother” catch and pass him slightly beyond the quarter pole.

Mine That Bird finished third as Dunkirk, who was the pacesetter, held his position on the rail to hang onto place money (and ruin a couple of payouts for yours truly).

Borel, who would’ve claimed an unprecedented jockey’s Triple Crown with a victory, was gracious in defeat, and said the last five weeks were great. “No regrets – I felt I had the best horse going in.”

Well, the racing community scored fairly big. Borel, with his racing savvy and personality, Rachel Alexandra, a new princess who could add a Tiara to her Preakness crown later this month; Mine That Bird’s trainer Chip Woolley, who came in from New Mexico with a pickup truck and can drive back in a limousine; and Birdstone, who showed some of his more well – heeled brethren a thing or two about what pedigree really means.

With the win by Summer Bird and win, place and show tallies by Mine That Bird during the Triple Crown, it’s safe to say Birdstone’s stud fee will take a significant climb up from $9500.

Somewhere, in a barn near you, a proud papa (between oats and smiles) is nodding his head, saying, “That’s my boys who rocked the house – ‘Mo Money, Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money!”

Well, we missed the exacta and triple, but we did have the winner in the mix. We pulled a net loss for the day, but we will go and get ‘em in November at the Breeders Cup!

The writer wishes to thank all the positive responses we received from our Triple Crown coverage. We will keep you posted every couple of weeks on what’s new from Thoroughbred Central and report on racing in North America.

We’ll see you next time with a Mother Goose/Triple Tiara preview, and some vibe on the Canadian Triple Crown as well.

Until next time, when you see your Hoss find that hole mid – stretch and shoot through to gun to the wire, remember to scream at the top of your lungs…

WORK THAT NOBLE BEAST!!!!

michaelingram@blackathlete.com/basneditor@basnnewsroom.com