NEWS
Shackleford arrives at Belmont, Nehro breezes at Churchill
Posted: Monday, May 30, 2011 4:20 PM
SHACKLEFORD
PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times
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by Steve Bailey
The winner of the most recent classic race arrived at the site of the Belmont Stakes (G1) on Monday, the same day a leading contender for the final leg of the Triple Crown breezed at Churchill Downs.
Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Shackleford arrived at Belmont just before 10 a.m. EDT on Monday in advance of a possible start in the 1 1/2-mile “Test of the Champion.”
The three-year-old Forestry colt out of the Unbridled mare Oatsee, is scheduled to walk the shedrow at trainer Dale Romans’ barn on Tuesday before going to the track on Wednesday. Romans has said a final decision on whether Shackleford will run in the Belmont will be made later in the week.
“He looks good,” Scotty Everett, an assistant to Romans, said following the colt’s arrival. “We are excited to have him here at Belmont.”
If Shackleford does start in the race, it will set up a rubber match between him and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Animal Kingdom, making it just the 20th time in the history of the Triple Crown that the Derby and Preakness winners have squared off in the Belmont Stakes.
At Churchill Downs on Monday, Derby runner-up Nehro breezed six furlongs to the inside of three-year-old stablemate Dominus, runner-up to Machen in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (G3) on April 30 at Churchill, in 1:12.20 on a track rated as fast.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said he was pleased with Nehro, who finished second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Louisiana Derby (G2) prior to the Kentucky Derby.
“Obviously, we stuck Nehro in company and asked him for a good work,” Asmussen said. “It was the best work I’ve seen him lay down.”
The breeze was the final major training workout for the Mineshaft colt prior to the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes. Asmussen has a barn and division at the New York track and he said Nehro probably will depart for New York on Thursday with a final pre-Belmont Stakes workout on the schedule for early next week.
“That’s been something we’ve talked about—that we had to get through this work to decide,” Asmussen said. “You don’t mind that, having the barn there and everything.”
Donald Adam’s possible Belmont starter Prime Cut is expected to breeze on Tuesday or Wednesday morning at Churchill.
“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 from Howard’s barn that could show up in the Belmont is Gaillardia Racing LLC’s Wilkinson, who won an allowance race on May 3 at Churchill in his most recent start.
“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.”
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
Possible Belmont Stakes starters
|
Horse |
Owner |
Trainer |
Last start |
|
Animal Kingdom |
Team Valor International |
H. Graham Motion |
2nd, Preakness S. (G1 |
|
Awesome Patriot |
Lanni Family Trust |
Bob Baffert |
2nd, Alydar S. |
|
Brilliant Speed |
Live Oak Plantation |
Tom Albertrani |
7th, Kentucky Derby (G1) |
|
Harlan’s Hello |
Shivmangal Racing Stable |
Doodnauth Shivmangal |
Won optional claiming race |
|
Isn’t He Perfect |
Kharag Stables |
Doodnauth Shivmangal |
9th, Preakness S. |
|
Master of Hounds |
Susan Magnier |
Aidan O’Brien |
5th, Kentucky Derby |
|
Mucho Macho Man |
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Dream Team One Racing Stable |
Kathy Ritvo |
6th, Preakness S. |
|
Monzon |
Sagamore Farm |
Ignacio Correas |
6th, Peter Pan S. |
|
Nehro |
Zayat Stables |
Steve Asmussen |
2nd, Kentucky Derby |
|
Prime Cut |
Donald Adam |
Neil Howard |
3rd, Peter Pan S. |
|
Ruler On Ice |
George and Lori Hall |
Kelly Breen |
2nd, Frederico Tesio S. |
|
Santiva |
Tom Walters |
Eddie Kenneally |
6th, Kentucky Derby |
|
Stay Thirsty |
Repole Stable |
Todd Pletcher |
12th, Kentucky Derby |
|
Uncle Sam |
Kaleem Shah |
Bob Baffert |
Won Alydar S. |
|
Wilkinson |
Gaillardia Racing |
Neil Howard |
Won allowance race |
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Philip, Oklahoma City, OK on May 31, 2011 at 05:14 PM
Could this be 2004 all over again? Nehro has had 5 weeks' rest for the Belmont Stakes while Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, Dialed In, et al. have had 3.
I'm keeping my eye on Nehro for the Belmont; I believe he has enough gas in his tank for 1-1/2 mi.
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