Triple Crown Trio, Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, Ruler on Ice to continue racing, Haskell Stakes next
The Triple Crown with all its fervour and festivities has come to an end with Kelly Breen trained three year old chestnut gelding, Ruler On Ice, claiming the final leg of the Triple Crown, the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes.
As all the starters of the Belmont Stakes have made their way back to Churchill Downs, the three winners of the Triple Crown might have to compete against each other in the races, which are to take place during the next half of the year.
Ruler On Ice’s win might have doused the hopes pinned by Graham Motion and Dale Romans. Graham Motion trains Animal Kingdom, the winner of the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby. Dale Romans conditions Shackleford, the winner of the second
leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes.
Ruler On Ice won the race by three quarter lengths, he missed the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Animal Kingdom stood sixth while Shackleford was fifth in the race.
Belmont Stakes is not only the longest of the three legs of the Triple Crown but it is also the oldest. It is also known as the “Run for the Carnations”, Animal Kingdom, and, Shackleford, might not have been able to make their mark in the Belmont Stakes,
also known as the “Test Of Champions”, but they will be given chances in the upcoming season.
Animal Kingdom showed a disappointing performance in the Belmont Stakes. He suffered a bump and clipped his heels. Earlier, he had won the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes, which boosted his earnings to $1,411,800. Prior to the Kentucky Derby the three year old
chestnut colt had enjoyed three wins from five starts.
Animal Kingdom had his plans changed for the summer where he will race on grass. The son of Leroidesanimaux has inherited some strong turf racing skills from his father. He is out of the German mare Dalicia.
Dalicia had never run on dirt. Animal Kingdom himself had never raced on dirt before the Kentucky Derby. But his astonishing performance in the 2011 Kentucky Derby turned the tables by winning on dirt surface for the first time and he was able to do this
in 2 minutes and 2.04 seconds.
Animal Kingdom may take part in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes. The Haskell Stakes has a purse of $1 million and is to take place on July 31, 2011. He may also be pointed to the Travers Stakes, the Grade 1 race, which has a purse of $ 1 million
and is set to take place on August 27, 2011.
Travers Stakes takes place on Saratoga race track. These races will also consider Ruler On Ice and Shackleford as possible contenders.
Animal Kingdom is owned by Team Valor International syndicate. Barry Irwin, the president of Team Valor International expressed his real desire regarding the colt “Our goal has been to run the colt where he would have the best chance to be voted an Eclipse
Award. Doing well in the Belmont would have made it a whole lot easier”. It is hoped that Animal Kingdom will be able to attain this feat.
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