NEWS
Road to the Triple Crown: Another big bunch for Belmont
Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 5:14 PM
SHACKLEFORD
PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times
For contender profiles, prep races, history of the Triple Crown, and more, check out THOROUGHBRED TIMES Road to the Triple Crown sponsored by Adequan® i.m.
by Jeff Lowe
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 O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base and O’Brien’s 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.
Anthony’s 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
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Julius, Santa Rosa, CA on May 29, 2011 at 01:48 PM
I for one do not believe that horse fatigue is an issue. It is more an element of soundness, and race readiness. Animal Kingdom showed no weakness in the Preakness, the only reason for his loss was a missed step or two in the closing run, and the drop in distance not allowing him to complete his stretch run. Another 1/16th of a mile and he would have prevailed. Ultimately, in each race the elements fall together to determine a deserving winner.
The principal flaw in racing today is not over racing or overworking, but quite simply that the classic races are being contested by horses that have not matured to their full potential. At three years old these fine animals are just learning how to compete, yet it becomes the owners and trainers goal to force them through the prestigious races and then retire them to lucrative stud duty rather than develop them as athletes.
If the thoroughbred industry is to survive and thrive there is something that the principals of the industry need to learn and study. "There is no racing without betting". The success or failure of the industry rests with the fans.
I would propose that racing needs to change its priorities from the blue grass up. All the classic races should be contested by four year old and up thoroughbreds. This would allow for a comprehensive season for three year old prep races where a fan base would begin to grow for favorites throughout the year, and then follow through into the classic four year old season. The horses would be more sound and race ready, and the contests would be much more exciting, and the participants would become familiar names that followers might be interested in as opposed to trying to figure out which new name is going to win the next race. At four years old, the horses would be much better developed to take on the challenge of a full racing season, and should have no problem racing 8, 10, 12 times or more throughout the season. The culmination of the season would be a meeting of the best of the best at the Breeders Cup races. There should also be motivational incentive for older horses to continue racing rather than cantering off to the breeding shed. Horses can have solidly successful careers at 5,6,7,8 years old (John Henry, one of the all time great RACE horses).
The bottom line is, if this is to be a sport, it needs to be about the athletes competing at the highest level, and not about purse leverage for the breeding shed. Let the race horses run while the public still has an interest in the SPORT, they will still have plenty of years to go to stud.
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Posted by: Robert, Louisville, KY on May 26, 2011 at 03:07 PM
The Belmont distance is Animal Kingdoms to loose. He pedigree has a TON of stamina on his dam side and is not bad on the sire sire also. Shackleford's connections are dreaming if they think a son of Forestry will excell at 1 1/2 miles. There are some interesting horses that may run, but A.K. will relesh the added distance and will simply gallop the others into the ground. European stamina is exactly what is needed in this race, and he has it in spades.
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Posted by: Karen, Grand Island, NE on May 25, 2011 at 07:29 PM
I'm surprized Animal Kingdom's connections are running him in the Belmont. Guess I'm ignorant, but I thought they would let him rest and return this summer, with their eye on the Breeders Cup. I like the pony, but I'm not convinced he'll win the Belmont, and I'm not convinced that Shackleford will either. Fresh horses seem to fare much better at Belmont. Fatigue is a horse's worst enemy when racing at that distance.
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