Belmont Stakes 2011 favourites, Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, Nehro practice
As the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes approaches, work rate of horses and trainers will increase, as some look for glory and others for a respectable finish.
Final workouts are going to be put in this weekend and busy schedules await all contenders.
The Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, and the favourites for the race will arrive at Belmont on June 5 from the training centre at Fair Hill. Md. and at Belmont he will have his final workout. Main track will be under renovation and
breezing will start after the break under trainer Graham Motion.
The Leroidesanimeaux colt’s second place effort at the Preakness Stakes makes him the clear favourite heading into the Belmont Stakes. He seemed to be picking up speed at the end of both races, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, so covering long
distances and going all out at the end should not be a problem for him.
Shackelford is clearly among the 2011 Belmont Stakes contenders because of his Preakness Stakes victory. Shackelford arrived at Belmont on Memorial Day and will soon start practicing with his exercise rider, Tammy Fox.
Memories of 2005 will be revived if Shackelford starts because that was the last time the Kentucky Derby winner and the Preakness Stakes winner faced off in the Belmont Stakes.
Despite finishing in second-place twice and no wins in the Triple Crown this year, Nehro still looks as the main contender and the one to watch out for among the three-year old class.
Nehro’s owner, Ahmad Zayat, decided to rest him for the Preakness Stakes. Now the well rested colt will start practicing at Belmont on June 6.
It’s been a year for major horse racing upsets and if Mucho Macho Man can get over the hump, who knows?
Troubled by shoe issues, Mucho Macho Man has lost a left and a right show in the Kentucky Derby and the Louisiana Derby but got the problem fixed by wearing synthetic glue-on shoes.
New jockey, Ramon Dominguez, will mount the horse and see him train and have his final workout on the main track on June 5. At 17.1 hands tall, the synthetic shoe wearing colt will be at the top of the upset list.
Winner of the Grade One Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Brilliant Speed,
continues to please the trainer, Tom Albertrani. The only problem Brilliant Speed could have on race day is that if it rains, as several Belmont Stakes have been rain affected.
Since Brilliant Speed is a turf horse, a soggy track could be a problem. Despite that, the colt breezed five furlongs in 1 minute and 3.11 seconds on the 1st of June.
Stay Thirsty is scheduled to breeze five or six furlongs at Belmont Park on June 5.
Ruler on Ice will breeze on June 4 or June 5 but according to trainer Kelly Breen, they are not sure, which day he will breeze.
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