Road to the Triple Crown: Another big bunch for Belmont

[twogunsid]

From Bloodhorse.com:For only the second time in history, entries for both the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) were packed to capacity, and another large field is shaping up for the Belmont Stakes (G1).

The New York Racing Association has 19 horses on a list of possible candidates for the final jewel of the Triple Crown on June 11 that will surely ebb and flow during the next 2 ½ weeks, but the Belmont is a safe bet to at least match the 12-horse field from last year. The record for the race was 15 horses, one short of the maximum, in 1983.

The Derby drew a full field of 20, reduced by one with the scratch of Uncle Mo, for the 11th time in the last 13 editions. The Preakness lured 14 horses, its limit, for the first time since 2005 and only the fourth time in the past 80 years.

Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness winner Shackleford both are tentatively in line for a rematch, which would be the first Belmont clash between the winners of the first two classics since Afleet Alex scored over Giacomo in 2005.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/05/25/road-to-the-triple-crown-another-big-bunch-for-belmont.aspx

[twogunsid]

1. Animal Kingdom vs. Shackleford rematch far from certain

From NTRA.com: The rematch is on – maybe.

While trainer Graham Motion said Thursday from his Fair Hill Training Center base in northeastern Maryland that he would like to run Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom back in the Belmont Stakes, neither he nor Dale Romans, trainer of Preakness winner Shackleford, is ready to commit to the third leg of the Triple Crown on June 11 at Belmont Park in New York.

Motion said he is very pleased with how Animal Kingdom came out of his half-length defeat to Shackleford last Saturday in the Preakness at Pimlico. “He looks great,” Motion said.

Romans said Thursday at Churchill Downs that he is unsure whether he will run Shackleford back in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont primarily because of the toll the race might take on the colt’s campaign for the second half of the year.

http://www.ntra.com/content/display/news/NDgxNTI=

[bigwillq]

2. Hello

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[twogunsid]

3. Thanks.

[Awsi Dooger]

11. I needed a 2 AM laugh

Why not, Welcome to DU.

You seem to know something about racing.

[KamaAina]

4. That road is closed for the season

all because a stupid speed horse wouldn't get out of the way. :grr: Welcome to Thoroughbred Racing Held Hostage: Year 34.

At this point, the Belmont packs about as much excitement as an Astros-Blue Jays game in interleague play. :(

[twogunsid]

6. I understand how you feel...

and I think most people would like to get excited about a TC run about now. For me, though, I just enjoy racing. I thought the Derby and the Preakness were pretty exciting races. Shackleford going that :22 and change first 1/4 and putting so much pressure on Flashpoint to the 1/4 pole then taking over in the stretch. I was suprised he was able to hold on.

I hope you get to see a TC winner soon. I just hope you will continue to follow Horse Racing.

Peace

[KamaAina]

8. Can't help it. I'm from Bawlmer!

I just hope you will continue to follow Horse Racing.

:-)

I worry about the other people who didn't grow up with racing and must be wondering what all the excitement is about.

[twogunsid]

10. I worry about that also...

the fan base is shrinking and aging.

Thanks for supporting Racing!

[twogunsid]

5. Shackleford Learned About Racing in S.C.

From Bloodhorse.com: Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford was foaled in Kentucky and his trainer, Dale Romans, is based there, but the colt also has close ties to South Carolina. Mike Lauffer’s and Bill Cubbedge’s homebred son of Forestry spent more than six months in the Palmetto State when he was a yearling and a 2-year-old being broken and prepared for racing at the Webb Carroll Training Center near St. Matthews.

Just about everything in South Carolina went smoothly for Shackleford, but he did have “a little funny quirk about the starting gate,” remembered Carroll.

“We would take him out with these big sets to walk through the gate daily and he just didn’t want to do it,” Carroll said. “We never pushed him and never prodded him; we just let him watch. Then after about six weeks of not pushing him, playing with him, and finessing him, he all of a sudden one day just boldly walked into the gate on his own. It was amazing.”

Said Carroll’s assistant, Travis Durr: “He didn’t like it (the starting gate), but he always came out fast.”

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63270/shackleford-learned-about-racing-in-sc#ixzz1NZRDNJ00

[twogunsid]

7. Animal Kingdom Confirmed for Belmont Stakes

From Bloodhorse.com: Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner and Preakness (gr. I) runner-up Animal Kingdom will run in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on Saturday, June 11, trainer Graham Motion said May 27.

“We just made the decision that he will be coming to the Belmont,” said Motion, speaking from the training center at Fair Hill, Md., where Animal Kingdom has been stabled since finishing a half-length behind Shackleford in the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown. “He bounced out of the Preakness very well and we are looking forward to running in the Belmont Stakes. He will probably come to Belmont Park the week leading up to race, depending on where we decide to have his final workout.”

Animal Kingdom, a 2 3/4-length winner of the May 7 Derby under jockey John Velazquez, will be bidding to become just the 12th horse in history to complete the Derby-Belmont double, a feat last accomplished by 1995’s 3-year-old champion, Thunder Gulch .

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63272/animal-kingdom-confirmed-for-belmont-stakes#ixzz1Na49G44n

[twogunsid]

9. Belmont Stakes: Alternation works five furlongs at Arlington

From NTRA.com: Alternation, winner of Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont, worked a solid six furlongs on Friday morning at Arlington Park, trainer Donnie Von Hemel’s summer base. Von Hemel said later in the morning that he and Alternation’s owner, Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stable, won’t firm up plans for the colt’s next race until sometime this weekend. Alternation is being considered for a return trip to New York for the Belmont Stakes.

Working alone under jockey Eddie Razo around 6:30 a.m. Friday, Alternation was timed by Arlington clockers in splits of 37.60 seconds for three furlongs and 49 seconds for a half-mile on the way to a five-furlong final time of 1:00.60. Alternation then galloped out six furlongs in a strong 1:13.

“I was very pleased,” Von Hemel said. “He broke off real nice and relaxed, and basically every eighth was faster than the previous one. He finished well, galloped out really good.”

The workout was Alternation’s first since he won the Peter Pan on May 14. Coming back from New York, Alternation stopped for a layover at Pin Oak in central Kentucky before arriving at Arlington on May 18. Von Hemel said Alternation had taken the shipping well.

http://www.ntra.com/content/display/news/NDgxNTc=

Alternation is an interesting horse. He may be worth a bet if he goes in the Belmont. - tgs