NEW YORK — What a perfect contrast in this soap opera of a Triple Crown season: The trainer hobbles up to the podium to talk about the horse who streaked to victory in the Kentucky Derby and is looking to add Saturday's Belmont Stakes to his record.

Still on crutches after breaking his right leg in a motorcycle crash before the Derby, Chip Woolley said his little gelding is ready for one more big run in the Belmont. A win, and Mine That Bird would become the 12th Derby-Belmont winner and first since Thunder Gulch in 1995.

And his rider, Calvin Borel, would be the first jockey to win the Triple Crown on different horses, having won the Derby aboard Mine That Bird and the Preakness aboard Rachel Alexandra.

"The horse is doing super," Woolley said. "He's gotten stronger every day since the Preakness, and we're tickled with where he is right now."

Mine That Bird arrived at Belmont Park yesterday after a plane ride from Louisville, hours after being made the 2-1 favorite in a field of 10 3-year-olds for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont. The Derby winner drew the No. 7 post position for the longest and most grueling Triple Crown race.

Charitable Man, who missed the Derby and the Preakness but won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 9, was the second choice at 3-1. He drew the No. 6 post, and will be ridden by Alan Garcia, winner of last year's Belmont with 38-1 long shot Da' Tara.

Also entered, from the rail out, are: Chocolate Candy (10-1), Dunkirk (4-1), Mr. Hot Stuff (15-1), Summer Bird (12-1), Luv Gov (20-1), Flying Private (12-1), Miner's Escape (15-1) and Brave Victory (15-1).

Borel guided Mine That Bird to a breathtaking last-to-first run along the rail to win the Derby by 6 3/4 lengths on May 2, and the gelding finished a diminishing length behind the filly in the Preakness under Mike Smith.

In the Belmont, Mine That Bird may be closer to the leaders because the early pace usually is not as fast as in shorter races.

"That's what we're hoping for," Woolley said at the post position draw. "With his running style, we're going to have to let him run his race.

"If we can just be within 10 or 12 lengths of them, I feel comfortable he'll have enough kick left."

Rachel Alexandra was considered for the Belmont, but co-owner Jess Jackson decided last Friday to pass on the race to give his exceptional filly a break after the Preakness — her sixth straight victory. Borel would have ridden the filly in the Belmont, and Woolley would have had to find a new rider.

"I'm glad she's not running," Borel said.