Summer Bird Wins Belmont

Summer Bird Wins Belmont

The People's Choice

Bill Frakes/SI

Entering the Belmont Stakes, Mine That Bird was the odds-on favorite to make Calvin Borel the first jockey to win all three Triple Crown races on two different horses.

And They're Off

Bill Frakes/SI

Mine That Bird (center) got off to a clean start in the field of 10 horses.

Out Of The Shadows

Bill Frakes/SI

After sprinting away from the starting gate, Mine That Bird (third from right) took his familiar position of last along the rail.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Mine That Bird and Dunkirk battled for the lead, but it was a strong-charging Summer Bird (not pictured) who pulled away from them both for a 2 3/4-length victory.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Dunkirk set the pace for most of the race, and finished second.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Summer Bird (red cap) starts making his move along the outside.

Bird Takes Flight

Bill Frakes/SI

Down the stretch, Summer Bird took control and pulled away from Mine That Bird and Dunkirk (far right).

Pulling Away

Bill Frakes/SI

Summer Bird, who finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness, had smooth sailing once he took the lead late.

Heading For The Finish

Bill Frakes/SI

Summer Bird, an 11-1 underdog, won by 2 3/4 lengths and covered the 1.5 mile track in 2:27.54.

Redemption

Bill Frakes/SI

Kent Desormeaux found the Belmont winner's circle after being disappointed in Triple Crown bids with Big Brown in 2008 and Real Quiet in 1998.