2009 Belmont Stakes Betting - Lukas Has Two Longshots

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won in Belmont Stakes betting a total of four times and he tries for a fifth on Saturday with two longshots, Flying Private and Luv Gov. While neither horse is given much of a chance, Lukas has a history of winning with longshots in the Belmont Stakes. Flying Private is 12-1 on Saturday while Luv Gov is 20-1. 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 8th 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 Belmont Stakes odds. 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."

Lukas believes that the key to winning in Belmont betting 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 Stakes betting 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.