Belmont Stakes 2011 – Shackleford confirms participation
Animal Kingdom and Shackleford both have an axe to grind in the Belmont Stakes, as the former has won the Kentucky Derby, and, the latter has won the Preakness Stakes.
So they are both to have a fierce battle at Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the U.S Triple Crown, also known as the, “Test of the Champions”.
Animal Kingdom and Shackleford lead the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Three-Year-Old Poll. Animal Kingdom leads the poll with 187 points and Shackleford has 168 points.
The Derby and Preakness winners have clashed 21 times at the Belmont Stakes.
Shackleford earlier on had his participation in doubt because of his trainer, Dale Romans’s apparent reluctance. He believed that an attendance at the Belmont Stakes would cause the son of Forestry to fatigue, if he is to campaign for the second half of
the year as well.
Shackleford is bred and owned by Michael Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge. The stallion, Shackleford, as a yearling was presented for sale at the Keeneland auction, but when he was unable to fetch the desired price he was kept by his owners. He is out of the unbridled
mare Oatsee.
Shackleford’s final drill managed to convince his trainer that he is a strong colt. The overcast June 5, 2011 morning saw the three year old chestnut colt make his way to the track at 9: 00 a.m. He was working with exercise rider Tammy Fox.
Tammy Fox spoke about the colt’s performance, he said, “He's very low maintenance, he's fit enough. Now we'll just see if he can get the mile and a half”.
He first jogged the track the wrong way and then galloped the right way breezing the five furlongs in an astonishing time span of 1 minute and 00.37 seconds. After leaving the five furlong pole he was able to post fractions of 12.47 seconds 24.51 seconds,
and 36.11 seconds for the first three furlongs.
With Fox hardly asking the colt to run, Shackleford galloped six furlongs in 1 minute and 14 seconds. His drilling was ranked 16th of the 34 timed workouts.
Romans commented on his performance by saying, “It's a go as long as he comes out of the work okay”. Romans was watching his performance from the grandstand with his assistant Scott Everett.
Shackleford’s participation news received a blended response from Animal Kingdom’s trainer, Graham Motion but he was quoted as saying, “Personally, I’d rather he wasn’t in there”.
In the Kentucky Derby his participation was in doubt, as Shackleford did not have sufficient graded earnings. He did race and was fourth in the race.
Shackleford then made his start in the Preakness Stakes at odds of 13-1 and was first in the 2011 second leg of the Triple Crown.
The Preakness winner has received 9-2 Watchmakers odds and is attempting to be the 19th horse to win the final two legs of the Triple Crown. He is to gallop again on July 7, 2011 as he continues to prepare for the Belmont Stakes.
His reins will be held by Jesus Castanon in the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes. As for racing enthusiasts they need to keep their hopes high for the best horse to win and get hold of the white carnations.
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