Charitable Man primed for Belmont stakes win, says trainer

Charitable Man is well-rested and has the pedigree needed to pull off a shock upset in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, his trainer said earlier this week.

Kiaran McLaughlin, however, concedes his jockey, Alan Garcia, will probably be looking over his shoulder at Kentucky Derby champion and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird.

"We do have a lot of respect for Mine That Bird," McLaughlin told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"He's run well twice in the two (Triple Crown) races. If he didn't have a little trouble in the Preakness he might be going for the Triple Crown."

Most of the pre-race publicity has centered around Mine That Bird and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, the champion filly who is being kept out of the $1 million Belmont.

But McLaughlin believes Virginia-bred Charitable Man, who easily won the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 9, is primed to enter the winner's circle on Saturday.

The bay colt is a son of 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid and should have no problem handling the rigorous mile-and-a-half distance of the Triple Crown series's final leg, the trainer said.

"We feel we've got the horse to beat," said McLaughlin.

"He's training great. He's a fresh horse. His father won the race in 1999 so he's bred to go a mile-and-a-half."

Mine That Bird will be the prohibitive favourite after winning the Derby as a 50-1 longshot and finishing a length behind Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness after a late charge.

Charitable Man, however, has won three of his four lifetime starts and is alert after sitting out both of the opening Triple Crown races.