Shackleford a hopeful for the Belmont Stakes
The festivities of the Triple Crown are about to end as time draws near for the final leg of the Triple Crown. The Belmont Stakes is to take place on June 11, 2011. Along with other fierce contestants such as the Derby winner Animal Kingdom Preakness Stakes’
winner, Shackleford is also being pointed to the final leg of the Triple Crown. Romans earlier was quoted saying that he is unsure whether the colt will be running in the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes.
Shackleford is trained by Dale Romans. The son of Forestry returned to Churchill Downs on the morning of May 22, 2011. That is just one day after he savoured victory in the Preakness Stakes. He was sent in the race with betting odds of about 12-1. He got
hold of victory in the Preakness Stakes by beating the pace setter Flashpoint in a final time of one minute and 12 seconds.
According to Romans, Shackleford might not be racing in the Belmont as it puts a lot of pressure on the colt’s physical form. Shackleford has been campaigning in the first half of the year and his trainer does not want to over exert him for the second half
of the year. He commented on this “If you put all these races in a vacuum, yeah, I’d almost run for sure, but you’re talking about three really tough races in five weeks, I’m not saying we will run or won’t run. I’m going to give it a little more time.”
Shackleford nevertheless is making his way to New York and will also work out on the Belmont Track to practise for the Belmont Stakes. Romans said he will train Shackleford for the Belmont Stakes. He will hire the services of the retired jockey Mark Guidry.
Guidry has returned to Churchill Downs to work for trainer Romans and will exercise his horses. A final decision regarding his participation will be made after his trainer and owner assess Shackleford’s physical form.
Romans was earlier in Baltimore where he was attending the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic sale, he spoke on Shackleford’s plans by saying “We're just going to train him as if we're going to run and, that being said, we'll probably end up going to New York in
the next few days, We'll probably look for a breeze there next weekend over that racetrack."
As we speak here on Shackleford’s possible participation, it is noteworthy to remember that the Belmont track is a little tough for newcomers, also the sandy dirt surface is a pressuring for newcomers. This raises concerns for Romans and he wants to make
sure that the track’s harshness does not wear his horse out.
Shackleford galloped over the rain soaked Churchill Downs and continued to impress his trainer Romans with his superior physical form and development.
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