Daily Racing Form national handicapper Mike Watchmaker analyzes the potential pace scenario for next Saturday's Belmont Stakes and discusses how it could affect Preakness winner Shackleford, who likes to be on or near the lead. Includes Watchmaker's Belmont Stakes future-book odds.
Past Belmont Stakes winners, fastest times, winning post positions,
Whether a Triple Crown is on the line or not, pace strategy and tactics are usually a key element of the Belmont Stakes. This is especially true when prospective contenders have contrasting running styles, as will be the case if Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, and Nehro all make the race.
In the Preakness, the pace had gone from frenetic to mild, which is why Shackleford – when Animal Kingdom made his final push – had enough energy to push pack and stay clear. Shackleford is a speed horse, yes, but in the Preakness he showed mastery of the skill that separates horses running on blind instinct from horses racing with a purpose: rating.
The connections of the three favorites for the Belmont Stakes – Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, and Nehro – expressed optimism and excitement with their respective horses while defending the overall quality of the 3-year-old crop when addressing the racing media during a national teleconference Thursday afternoon.
Animal Kingdom, Nehro, Mucho Macho Man, Shackleford, Master of Hounds, Santiva, and Brilliant Speed were the first seven across the wire in the Kentucky Derby on May 7, and if all come back, as now scheduled, on June 11 in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, it will mark the first time ever that the first seven finishers in the Derby also competed in the Belmont Stakes.
Ramon Dominguez, last year’s Eclipse Award-winning jockey, will ride Mucho Macho Man in the June 11 Belmont Stakes, his agent, Steve Rushing, informed on Wednesday.
Shackleford, the Preakness Stakes winner, will work on Saturday at Belmont Park for the June 11 Belmont Stakes, and “if he works good, he’ll be there for sure,” trainer Dale Romans said Wedneseday morning. Shackleford galloped 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning. It was his second day on the track there since arriving from Churchill Downs.
Brilliant Speed, who finished eventh in the Kentucky Derby, remained on course for a start in the June 11 Belmont Stakes with a five-furlong work in 1:03.11 Wednesday morning at Belmont Park.
