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Animal Kingdom, the Kentucky Derby winner, will definitely run in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 11, trainer Graham Motion confirmed on Friday.
"We feel like we're definitely going as long as the horse is good," Motion said Friday. "We want to be there. The horse seems to be doing really good. I'm so pleased with how he bounced out of it the last couple of days. All systems go."
BELMONT STAKES: Replays, contenders, and news updates »
Animal Kingdom, who was beaten one-half length by Shackleford in the Preakness, jogged 1 1/2 miles over the dirt surface at the Fair Hill Training Center in northeast Maryland on Friday. Motion said that Animal Kingdom would likely jog again on Saturday and that he may start galloping on Sunday.
Motion said that he has yet to decide when he would ship Animal Kingdom to New York. If he wants to breeze the horse at Belmont, he would likely come a week out. If he opts not to breeze Animal Kingdom there, then it would most likely be two or three days before the race.
Motion also mentioned that a 2-year-old half-brother to Shackleford arrived at his Fair Hill barn Friday. The horse, owned by My Meadowview Farm, is by A.P. Indy.
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," Motion quipped.
In other Belmont news, Ruler On Ice worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Monmouth Park in company with Nacho Friend and is being pointed to the race.
"As of now we are pointing towards it," Breen said. "He breezed fabulous."
Monzon, who finished sixth in the Peter Pan, is also being pointed to the Belmont, trainer Ignacio Correas IV said Friday.
| Belmont Stakes probable starters: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horse | Trainer | Last start |
| Alternation | Donnie Von Hemel | 1st - Peter Pan |
| Animal Kingdom | Graham Motion | 2nd - Preakness |
| Brilliant Speed | Tom Albertrani | 7th - Ky. Derby |
| Master of Hounds | Aidan O'Brien | 5th - Ky. Derby |
| Monzon | Ignacio Correas IV | 6th - Peter Pan |
| Mucho Macho Man | Kathy Ritvo | 6th - Preakness |
| Nehro | Steve Asmussen | 2nd - Ky. Derby |
| Prime Cut | Neil Howard | 3rd - Peter Pan |
| Ruler On Ice | Kelly Breen | 2nd - Federico Tesio |
| Santiva | Eddie Kenneally | 6th - Ky. Derby |
| Shackleford | Dale Romans | 1st - Preakness |
| Stay Thirsty | Todd Pletcher | 12th - Ky. Derby |
| Possibles: | ||
| Awesome Patriot | Bob Baffert | 1st - Alydar Stakes |
| Harlan’s Hello | Doodnauth Shivmangal | 1st - Op. claiming |
| Isn’t He Perfect | Doodnauth Shivmangal | 9th - Preakness |
Best Bets
SHE'S STONES SIS stepped forward with first try at this distance three back, dueling the pace and then gamely denying the runnerup while well clear of the rest; fell short trying similar tactics last time but was again well clear in second, and there doesn't appear to be much other speed entered against her here. TAHOE TIGRESS was given a perfect trip and ride and it was just enough to track down 7/5 class-dropper Nuffsaid Nuffsaid last time; owns previous win over a mile.
