Belmont Stakes Thread
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It's never to late to start and we have three long weeks, before a great day of racing. Below are the possibles for this year running at Big Sandy from the press office of NYRA.
Alternation
Animal Kingdom
Anthonys Cross.
Awesome Patriot
Harlans Hello
Isnt He Perfect
Jaycito
Master of Hounds
Mucho Macho Man
Nehro
Prime Cut
Santiva
Shackleford
Stay Thirsty
Uncle Sam
Alternation
Animal Kingdom
Anthonys Cross.
Awesome Patriot
Harlans Hello
Isnt He Perfect
Jaycito
Master of Hounds
Mucho Macho Man
Nehro
Prime Cut
Santiva
Shackleford
Stay Thirsty
Uncle Sam
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By James Burn 12:28PM 24 MAY 2011
USA: Master Of Hounds, fifth in the Kentucky Derby,
is "on target" for the Belmont Stakes - the third and final leg ofthe US Triple Crown - on June 11.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the son of Kingmambo began 2011 by finishing second in the UAE Derby at Meydan and was only five and half lengths behind Animal Kingdom at Churchill Downs this month.
He could again meet Animal Kingdom, who was denied the second leg of the Triple Crown by Shackleford in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.
O'Brien's wife Anne-Marie tweeted on Tuesday: "Master Of Hounds worked well this morning and is on target for the Belmont Stakes on June 11."
The news means it is unlikely he will run in the Investec Derby - for which he is a general 33-1 chance - at Epsom on June 4.
O'Brien will be bidding toemulate fellow Irish trainer Dermot Weld, who famously won the Belmont with the Mick Kinane-ridden Go And Go in 1990.
Im looking forward to watching some of these run, Baffert said. I have to find a way to separate a few of them.
Last week while at Pimlico, Baffert said that he will have at least one, but maybe two horses for the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The most likely is Lanni Family Trusts Awesome Patriot, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Alydar Stakes at Hollywood Park on May 8. The son of Awesome Again was a bit late getting started this year, having made his debut in the March 12 San Felipe (gr. II) when sixth. As a 2-year-old, he won twice in four starts.
A $350,000 yearling purchase, Awesome Patriot seems to be coming into the Belmont very well, most recently working four furlongs in :48-flat May 22 at Hollywood, one week after turning in a bullet six-furlong move.
Ive always thought he would get better as he goes longer, Baffert said.
Awesome Patriot won the Alydar by three-quarters of a length over stablemate, Uncle Sam, who was 2 1/2 lengths in front of the next horse. Khaleem Shahs Uncle Sam was making his third start of the season. The Tapit colt won a one-mile optional claimer at Santa Anita on April 3.
Both of them are possible for the Belmont, Baffert said.
Baffert also did not rule out Zayat Stables Jaycito for the Belmont, calling him 50-50 for the 1 1/2-mile race, but he seems more unlikely since he still has not worked since April 2. Jaycito was withdrawn from Derby consideration in April with a foot bruise after finishing runner-up in the San Felipe. The Victory Gallop colt won the grade I Norfolk as a 2-year-old while trained by Mike Mitchell. Earlier in the year, Baffert considered Jaycito his best Derby chance, so he is still hopeful for a big second-half campaign.
Hes coming around. Well try to make (the Belmont), but Im not sure hell be ready.
From Bloodhorse Article
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.
Belmont also staged Triple Crown rubber matches in 1994, when Preakness winner Tabasco Cat doubled up on Derby winner Go for Gin; in 1991, when Preakness winner Hansel scored by a head over Derby winner Strike the Gold; and in 1988, when Preakness winner Risen Star rolled to a 14 ¾-length win in the Belmont while Derby winner Winning Colors finished sixth.
More recently, the Belmont has been kind to late bloomers. Drosselmeyer (2010), Summer Bird (2009), Da Tara (2008), and Jazil (2006) all notched their first career stakes victories in the Belmont.
Master of Hounds may be the most intriguing horse in that position this year. The Irish-based Kingmambo colt finished second by a nose in the S & M al Naboodah Group United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2) and fifth in the Kentucky Derby in his two starts this year. He returned to trainer Aidan OBriens Ballydoyle base and OBriens wife, Anne-Marie, declared him on target for the Belmont after a Monday workout.
Owner Michael Dubb said last week he would take a look at the Belmont for Tech Fall, who won an allowance race at one mile and 70 yards in a swift 1:39.29 against older rivals on April 30 at Delaware Park. Tech Fall is a son of Birdstone, who upset Smarty Jones in the 2004 Belmont and sired 2009 winner Summer Bird from his first crop.
Other Belmont candidates include Peter Pan Stakes (G2) winner Alternation, recent Alydar Stakes winner Awesome Patriot, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Brilliant Speed, Risen Star Stakes (G2) winner Mucho Macho Man, Derby sixth-place finisher Santiva, and Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Stay Thirsty.
Grade 1 winner Jaycito is listed as possible but probably would not run against Nehro, his stablemate for owner Zayat Stables. Jaycito has been battling foot issues and has not recorded a published workout since he missed the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9.
Anthonys Cross, another Belmont possibility, has not returned to the workout tab since he was pulled from consideration from the Kentucky Derby in late April because of a temperature.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
Romans, who remained in Baltimore for a few days after the Preakness to attend the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale, watched Shackleford train over the Churchill track Thursday and said he expects to ship the son of Forestry to Belmont in the coming days.
"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," Romans said. "We'll probably look for a breeze there next weekend over that racetrack."
The Belmont oval can be an intimidating one for newcomers because of its 11/2-mile circumference and its sandy dirt surface. So Romans wants to know sooner rather than later whether Shackleford looks as comfortable over the Long Island track as he has at Churchill and Pimlico.
"They have to get used to staying on that left lead as long as possible," Romans said of Belmont runners. "It can been deep and sandy depending on the amount of rain New York gets. I want to give him a chance to get over it (the track) and see that he likes it. We can always opt out but, right now, we're going to train as if we're going to run."
Shackleford galloped over the rain-soaked Churchill Downs surface on Thursday, his second day of going to the track since his Preakness victory over Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. The chestnut colt appears to be holding his flesh well two-thirds of the way through the Triple Crown and continues to please Romans with his mental and physical development.
"He's just gotten better all year as the year has gone on," Romans said. "And you don't get many horses that do like that. It started when he won the allowance race at Gulfstream, and he has continued to get better every day since. I think the light bulb has gone off, and it seems like the more we're doing with him, the better he gets. I won't say I'm surprised, but it's unusual with most horses."
Tom Walters' Santiva, sixth in the Kentucky Derby last time out, is another who is probable to start in the Belmont. The son of Giant's Causeway is scheduled to work on the main track at Churchill Friday morning, but bad weather could delay the work until Saturday.
I'm just hoping JPs Gusto is running at Belmont that day. I'll be unloading on him!
Tom Walters' probable Belmont S. (G1) starter SANTIVA (Giant's Causeway) worked five furlongs over a fast Churchill Downs track Saturday morning in 1:00 3/5 under assistant trainer Brendan Walsh. It was the co-fifth fastest of 43 works at the distance.
Santiva was the first horse on the track after the renovation break and worked in company with Golden Gulch (Thunder Gulch). They went the first three furlongs in :36 1/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 3/5.
Trainer Eddie Kenneally was very pleased with the work.
"He worked really, really well today," Kenneally said. "He's very fit. He went the minute and three-fifths nicely and didn't overexert himself."
The three-year-old bay broke his maiden last year in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2), one race after running second in the Breeders' Futurity (G1). He returned this season to be second in the Risen Star S. (G2) and ninth in the Blue Grass S. (G1), and last out finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Santiva will be seeking just his second career win in the Belmont if he makes the field, but Kenneally is hesitant to confirm his charge for the "Test of the Champion" just yet.
"We are still playing it by ear in regards to the Belmont, but he will likely end up in the race," the conditioner said.
What a joke! :sad: Really thought this horse had a great shot!
The son of Mineshaft breeezed six furlongs in 1:12.20 (1/4) on a track rated fast. It was the first workout for Nehro on something other than a sloppy track since he arrived in Louisville in April.
On May 16, Nehro breezed four furlongs in :50.80 (17/27) at the track. He didn't put in a recorded workout on May 23.
Today's breeze came in company with stable mate Dominus, who was narrowly edged by Machen in the Grade III Derby Trial at Churchill on opening night. Dominus was timed in exactly the same time as Nehro. However, Nehro was beaten a length to wire.
Fractions were :12.00, :24.20, :36.20, :48.00, and 1:00. Nehro galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.60 and a mile in 1:39.00. Carlos Rosas was aboard Nehro.
Trainer Steve Asmussen was pleased with the move.
In his defense, its probably the first time hes got to work on a fast track in about two months," Asmussen said. "I think you saw why we were not wanting a sloppy track for the Derby. I feel really good about Nehro and the rest of the year for him.
Shackleford might seek to become the 19th horse to win the Preakness and Belmont without winning the Kentucky Derby (NYRA/Adam Coglianese)
Preakness S. (G1) winner SHACKLEFORD (Forestry) arrived at Belmont Park just before 10 a.m. (EDT) Monday in advance of a possible start in the 143rd running of the $1 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 11.
"He looks good," said Scotty Everett, assistant trainer to Dale Romans. "We are excited to have him here at Belmont."
Shackleford will walk the shedrow at Romans' barn on Tuesday before going to the track on Wednesday, according to Romans. A final decision on his status for the Belmont is expected later this week.
If the colt is given the green light for the race, it will set up a rubber match between him and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]). The rematch would represent just the 20th time in the history of the Triple Crown that the Derby and Preakness winners have squared off in the Belmont.
Shackleford, whose half-sister Lady Joanne (Orientate) won the 1 1/4-mile Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga in 2007, will seek to become the 19th horse to complete the Preakness-Belmont double, a feat last accomplished by Afleet Alex in 2005
Point Given (2001), Tabasco Cat (1994), Hansel (1991), Risen Star (1988), Little Current (1974), Damascus (1967), Nashua (1955), Native Dancer (1953), Capot (1949), Bimelech (1940), Pillory (1922), Man o' War (1920), Belmar (1895), Saunterer (1881), Grenada (1880), Duke of Magenta (1878), and Cloverbrook (1877) were the only others to win the second and last races in the Triple Crown without having won the Derby.
Shackleford, who was a game half-length winner over Animal Kingdom in the Preakness, has a lifetime record of 7-3-1-0 with career earnings of $1,471,666 for owners Michael Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge.
Among the others under consideration for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, which has a maximum field of 16, are BRILLIANT SPEED (Dynaformer), seventh in the Kentucky Derby; HARLAN'S HELLO (Harlan's Holiday), winner of an optional claimer at Belmont; ISN'T HE PERFECT (Pleasantly Perfect), ninth in the Preakness; MASTER OF HOUNDS (Kingmambo), fifth in the Derby; MONZON (Thunder Gulch), sixth in the Peter Pan S. (G2); MUCHO MACHO MAN (Macho Uno), sixth in the Preakness and third in the Derby; Derby runner-up NEHRO (Mineshaft); PRIME CUT (Bernstein), third in the Peter Pan; RULER ON ICE (Roman Ruler), second in the Frederico Tesio S. at Pimlico; SANTIVA (Giant's Causeway), sixth in the Derby, and STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini), 12th in the Derby.
"He'll work this week and then have one more work before his next start," trainer Neil Howard said. "He's possible for the Belmont, but we're still not sure what we want to do with him."
Another horse in the Howard barn that could show up in the Belmont is Lecomte S. (G3) winner WILKINSON, a son of 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid.
"I'm considering Wilkinson for the Belmont," Howard said. "He seems like the kind of horse that would like going a mile and a half."
Wilkinson won an allowance race at Churchill Downs in his most recent start on May 3.
FB
not related to Belmont at all, but did you catch the work our girl put out on Monday. Minute flat going 5f at Delaware. Can't wait to see her again!
I saw and thought about you, she is sitting on another big performance. We won't get a price till November.
ya'll talking about HDG?
Belmont Stakes: Monzon finishes fast in six-furlong drill | Daily Racing Form
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