Belmont Stakes 2011 Results: Animal Kingdom Owner Rips Monzon

After clipping heels with Monzon and nearly throwing jockey John Velazquez Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom never had a chance in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. Ruler On Ice, a 24-1 long shot, was the victor.

Barry Irwin, president of Barry Irwin, president of Animal Kingdom owner Team Valor International, did not hide his bitterness over the way the race unfolded. He took to Facebook rip the horse, and his ownwers.

Via ESPN:

“Mud didn’t cost AK the Belmont,” Irwin wrote. “At the break, Isn’t He Perfect came over at the break, intimidated Mucho Macho Man, who slammed into Animal Kingdom so hard that our colt nearly went down. Our jockey lost his left iron, which was not corrected until the turn. We never had a chance. Isn’t He Perfect had no business being in this race and he screwed it up for a lot of horses today. Classics are no place for amateurs.”

Animal Kingdom had gone off as a 5-2 favorite at post time. A hoped-for duel with Preakness winner Shackleford never materialized as both horses finished out of the money.

Belmont Stakes 2011 Results: Animal Kingdom Never A Factor

Animal Kingdom, a 5-2 favorite at post time of the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes, was never a factor in the race on Saturday evening, finishing sixth as 24-1 long shot Ruler On Ice stunned the 12-horse field.

Animal Kingdom, the Kentucky Derby winner, suffered a disastrous start. Breaking from the No. 9 post position he lagged well behind, then clipped the heel of Monzon and nearly threw rider John Velazquez.

The jockey did eventually regain control of the horse, but Animal Kingdom spent most of the race in last place well behind the 11-horse pack in front of him. Animal Kingdom did make a late charge around the far turn, briefly getting into contention from the far outside on the backstretch. The difficult ride took its toll, however, and Animal Kingdom could not maintain the late charge.

The sixth-place finish put Animal Kingdom one spot behind Preakness winner Shackleford in the overall results.

Belmont Stakes Results: Shackleford Can't Hang On, Fades To Fifth

The 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes unfolded as most analysts expected for Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford. Breaking from the extreme outside No. 12 post position Shackleford had no trouble getting to the lead and setting the pace for most of the race.

Also as expected, however, the Belmont's 11/2-mile distance -- longest of the three Triple Crown races -- proved to be too much for Shackleford, a 10-1 fourth choice for bettors who ended up fifth in the race.

Ruler On Ice, the eventual winner as a 24-1 long shot who had not run in either the Kentucky Derby or Preakness, had stayed just behind Shackleford much of the race. As the horses rounded the final turn Ruler On Ice blew past the seemingly tiring Shackleford.

Stay Thirsty (2nd), Brilliant Speed (3rd) and Nehro (4th) all ran by Shackleford in the final few hundred yards. The only consolation for the Preakness winner was finishing one spot ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, who stumbled badly at the start of the race and finished sixth.

2011 Belmont Stakes: 24-1 Long Shot Ruler On Ice The Winner

Ruler On Ice, a 24-1 long shot who did not run in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes, stunned the field to win the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont.

Preakness winner Shackleford set the pace, as expected, with Ruler On Ice sitting just behind. Ruler On Ice ran down a fading Shackleford heading into the backstretch and held off an inside charge from Stay Thirsty and a run from Brilliant Speed for the victory with Jose Valdivia Jr. aboard.

Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby and runner-up in the Preakness, seemed to stumble coming out of the starting gate and was never a factor in the outcome, finishing sixth. Shackleford faded to fifth after leading most of the race.

Below are the full results from the 2011 Belmont Stakes.

1. Ruler On Ice
2. Stay Thirsty
3. Brilliant Speed
4. Nehro
5. Shackleford
6. Animal Kingdom
7. Mucho Macho Man
8. Santiva
9. Monzon
10. Master of Hounds
11. Prime Cut
12. Isn’t He Perfect

Here the payouts:

No. 3 Ruler on Ice 51.50 26.00 13.60
No. 2 Stay Thirsty 19.40 10.80
No. 5 Brilliant Speed 7.90

$1 Exacta $464.00
$2 Daily Double $994.00
.10 cent Super $3702.00
$1 Trifecta 3-2-5 $4134.00

Updated Belmont Stakes Odds: Master Of Hounds, Mucho Macho Man Moving Up

Current odds still show Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom as the favorite in today's 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes. Animal Kingdom is now 5-2, after opening at 2-1 in the morning line. Nehro is the second choice in the field at 7-2.

Master of Hounds, who had opened at 10-1, is now at 4-1. Mucho Macho Man, who had also opened at 10-1, is now 7-1. Preakness winner Shackleford is 10-1.

The track is currently listed as "muddy," and the forecast is for showers to continue throughout the day.

Pre-race coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on Versus. NBC will carry the race live beginning at 5 p.m. ET. Post time is 6:32 p.m. E.

Belmont Stakes odds (as of noon Eastern)

1. Master of Hounds, 4-1
2. Stay Thirsty, 17-1
3. Ruler On Ice, 33-1
4. Santiva, 13-1
5. Brilliant Speed, 9-1
6. Nehro, 7-2
7. Monzon, 30-1
8. Prime Cut, 22-1
9. Animal Kingdom, 5-2
10. Mucho Macho Man, 7-1
11. Isn’t He Perfect, 34-1
12. Shackleford, 10-1

Updated Belmont Stakes Odds: Animal Kingdom Favored

Animal Kingdom is a 2-1 favorite in this evening's 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by John Velazquez the Kentucky Derby winner will start from the ninth post position.

Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford is the 9-2 third choice. Shackleford drew the outside 12th post position in the 12-horse field. He is trained by Dale Romans and will be ridden by Jesus Castanon.

Nehro (4-1) and a pair of 10-1 choices, Master of Hounds and Mucho Macho Man, are horses to watch.

Post time is at 6:32 p.m. ET, and live race coverage will be on NBC beginning at 5 p.m. There will be pre- and post- race coverage on Versus.

Today's Belmont marks the 22nd time that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners have gone head-to-head in the Belmont. The Preakness winner has won 10 of those meetings, and the Kentucky Derby champion five.

Source: Daily Racing Form

Belmont Stakes Facts

Distance: 1.5 miles
Purse: $1 million
Post Time: 6:32 p.m. Eastern
TV: NBC, 5 p.m.
Weight: 126 lbs.

2011 Belmont Stakes Odds

via cdn0.sbnation.com

Belmont Stakes 2011 Contenders: A Look At The Field

Twelve horses are scheduled to go to the post Saturday in the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont. Most of the pre-race attention has been paid to the matchup between Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, the 2-1 morning line pre-race favorite, and Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford, a 9-2 third choice in the morning line. There are, however, 10 other horses -- several with legitimate chances to end up in the winner's circle. Let's look at the entire field, by post position.

1. Master of Hounds
Owner: Mrs. John Magnier
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Kentucky Derby: 5th
Morning Line: 10-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 8-1

Master of Hounds has been training in Ireland since the Kentucky Derby, and is expected to handle the distance of the Belmont well. The question will be whether he has enough to run down Animal Kingdom or Shackleford at the end.

"He’ll definitely put up a good show here. The 1 ½ miles will hit him on the head.," said T.J. Comerford, an assistant to owner Aidan O'Brien. "The reason we’re coming here is he really ran well in the Kentucky Derby."

2. Stay Thirsty
Owner: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Kentucky Derby: 12th
Morning Line: 20-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 20-1

This horse has not been incredibly competitive in its four Grade 1 starts, but Belmont Park is the home track for Stay Thirsty.

3. Ruler On Ice
Owner: George and Lori Hall
Trainer: Kelly Breen
Morning Line: 20-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 20-1

Ruler On Ice is making his Triple Crown debut. He ran second in the Federico Tesio and third in the Arkansas Derby. Probably a longshot here.

4. Santiva
Owner: Tom R. Walters
Trainer: Eddie Kenneally
Kentucky Derby: 6th
Morning Line: 15-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 12-1

The Daily Racing Form calls Santiva "a legitimate upset candidate, and should be used in all wagers. DRF also says the horse "boasts a fascinating mix of stamina over speed."

5. Brilliant Speed
Owner: Live Oak Stud
Trainer: Thomas Albertrani
Kentucky Derby: 7th
Morning Line: 15-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 15-1

Brilliant Speed is expected to be able to handle the Belmont distance, but the surface is another matter. He has never run well on dirt.

6. Nehro
Owner: Zayat Stables, LLC
Trainer: Steven Asmussen
Kentucky Derby: 2nd
Morning Line: 4-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 7-2

Bettors looking for someone other than Animal Kingdom or Shackleford are expected to place lots of action on Nehro. Analysts figure Nehro to be in the mix as the race heads down the back stretch.

7. Monzon
Owner: Sagamore Farm
Trainer: Ignacio Correas, IV
Morning Line: 30-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 30-1

Making his Triple Crown debut. Monzon is a longshot, but has the pedigree as he is the son of 1995 Belmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch.

8. Prime Cut
Owner:  Donald A. Adam
Trainer:  Neil Howard
Morning Line: 15-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 20-1

Another horse making his Triple Crown debut. There are questions about his ability to handle the Belmont's 11/2-mile distance.

9. Animal Kingdom
Owner: Team Valor International
Trainer: H. Graham Motion
Kentucky Derby: 1st
Preakness: 2nd
Morning Line: 2-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 5-2

The pre-race favorite. Animal Kingdom was gaining on Shackleford in the stretch at the Preakness and likely would have run him down with a little more track. That indicates the distance should not be an issue.

10. Mucho Macho Man
Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team One Racing Stable
Trainer: Kathy Ritvo
Kentucky Derby: 3rd
Preakness: 6th
Morning Line: 10-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 8-1

Mucho Macho Man could be a popular play on Saturday, but there are questions about his ability to compete at the Belmont distance.

11. Isn't He Perfect
Owner: Kharag Stables
Trainer: Doodnauth Shivmangal
Preakness: 9th
Morning Line: 30-1
Daily Racing Form Odds: 50-1

Well, he isn't perfect. He is the longest shot in the field.

12. Shackleford
Owner: Michael Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge
Trainer: Dale Romans
Kentucky Derby: 4th
Preakness: 1st
Morning Line: 9-2
Daily Racing Form Odds: 9-2

The Preakness winner is expected to be the controlling speed in the race. The question will be whether or not Shackleford can stay in the front for the entire 11/2-mile trip once he gets there.

Belmont Stakes 2011: News And Notes

On this Friday morning one day before the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes let's look around the Inter-Google and see what others are saying about Saturday's third leg of horse racing's Triple Crown.

Rick Snider: Waiting for next Crowning achievement | Rick Snider | Sports | Washington Examiner

The Triple Crown drought will reach 33 years Saturday when Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford and Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom race in the 143rd Belmont Stakes.

Will American racing ever produce a 12th Triple Crown champion? Is it even possible with so many great stallions sold to overseas breeders and with American foal crops falling to half their 1980s levels?

The Belmont ends another lackluster series of spring classics. Animal Kingdom and Shackleford did nothing before the Triple Crown; this generation of 3-year-old colts smells of one-shot wonders. With kingpin Uncle Mo on the mend from a rare liver disease, 2011 will be dismissed like many recent years for producing forgettable races.

It just so happens that I have known the writer of this piece for more than 30 years, and I only have one thing to say to my long-time friend. Gee, Rick, thanks for stomping all over our enthusiasm for this meeting between winners of the first two legs of the Triple Crown. You probably have a point, but did you really have to?

Belmont Stakes 2011: Stay Thirsty Has The Home Track Advantage - SBNation.com
SB Nation is a collection of over 290 individual communities, each offering high quality year-round coverage and conversation led by fans who are passionate about their favorite teams, leagues or sports. By empowering fans, SB Nation has become the largest and fastest growing grassroots sports network.

Belmont Stakes: Brilliant Speed trainer Tom Albertrani hunting for glory on home turf - ESPN New York
Bernardini went on to win the Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup, and was named the top 3-year-old male horse of 2006. A success in his budding career at stud, Bernardini has sired Stay Thirsty, one of 11 horses Albertrani will be trying to beat in Saturday's $1 million Belmont Stakes with his horse, Blue Grass winner Brilliant Speed. "They're so hard to come by," Albertrani said of earning a jewel in the Crown. "You don't have a horse that's going to be in a Triple Crown race every year. When you have one, you're very fortunate. I was very fortunate to have Bernardini. Brilliant Speed and King Congie [seventh in the Preakness] this year, they both came into the Derby picture very late. It's nice having a horse of that caliber in your barn and being able to participate in these races."

Mucho Macho Man has shown up -- and competed -- in each Triple Crown race - KansasCity.com

His pedigree suggests the Belmont's 11/2 miles won't be an issue. And if Mucho Macho Man can get his long, grinding strides in full gear and not get too far back, Reeves believes the racing world is going to see the start of something special.

"Well we know we have a tough horse and he has quickness, he has stamina," Reeves said. "We just haven't gotten him in that right situation yet to really prove what type of horse he is. I do believe he is the best 3-year-old in the country, and when we get to the end of the year, I hope he's proven that."

Nehro still looking for big win - Times Union
If you look at the way a horse named Nehro ran in the Kentucky Derby, then for sure you would say he'll be a factor in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

Belmont Stakes Post Positions, Animal Kingdom

Kentucky Derby winner and 2-1 Belmont Stakes morning line favorite Animal Kingdom drew a difficult but not impossible post position Wednesday for Saturday's third leg of the Triple Crown. Animal Kingdom will be in the nine spot in the 12-horse field.

From the Daily Racing Form:

Graham Motion, the trainer of Animal Kingdom, was happy where his colt drew in relation to Shackleford, who will be nearest the boisterous crowd lining the outside rail near the starting gate. Post 9 was a little farther out than ideal, Motion said, but preferable to some of the alternatives.

"I’d have rather been in 6 or 7," he said. "I didn’t want to be in 1 or 12."

While Shackleford will be on the lead, Animal Kingdom, as is his custom, will come from off the pace.

"We’ll know where he’ll be, but he doesn’t know where we’ll be," Motion said. "It’s going to be a tactical race. There’s no doubt about it."

The great equalizer in the race is the Belmont's long 11/2-mile distance, a length none of these horses has ever gone. The DRF thinks Animal Kingdom will be able to hold up:

The Belmont distance is a stretch for all of these 3-year-olds, but Animal Kingdom should have enough stamina to last the demanding trip.

Saturday's post time is 6:35 p.m. ET

Belmont Stakes Post Positions: For Shackleford, Distance Is The Issue

Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford drew the extreme outside post position, No. 12, when post positions were drawn Wednesday for Saturday's 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont.

Trainer Dale Romans is downplaying the post position, despite the fact that no horse has ever won the Belmont from the 12th post position.

"I think in a one-and-a-half mile race like the Belmont, the post position isn't that important," Romans said. "He'll be the last one in and the first one out."

Shackleford is expected to go to the front in the Belmont and set the pace. The question will be whether or not the horse can maintain that lead over the Belmont's 11/2 miles, easily the longest of the Triple Crown races.

To put the $1 million Belmont in perspective, when the field is well into the first turn, horses still have to run the equivalent of the Kentucky Derby's length.

"It's hard to realize just how big this place is, and how much racing there's still left when you turn for home," Romans said.

Shackleford, 4-1, is currently the third choice in the morning line. The Daily Racing Form opines that holding the lead the entire was is a tall challenge for the Preakness champ.

Through the last 26 runnings of the Belmont, only the improbable Da' Tara – the rank outsider at 38-1 – has been able to lead throughout ... The 12 furlongs of the Belmont may be really pushing his [Shackleford's] distance capabilities.

Saturday's post time is 6:35 p.m. ET (NBC).

Belmont Stakes 2011: Animal Kingdom's Owner 'Not Worried About Shackleford'

Now that the post positions and odds for Saturday's 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes have been established and the heavy workouts have been run it is time to wait -- and to talk about what might happen Saturday. A little trash talk never hurt the pre-race buildup, and we already have a little.

Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby is the early 2-1 favorite, and it seems the horse's owner, Barry Irwin, took a shot at Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford on Wednesday.

The owner of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom fired the first salvo at a news conference in Manhattan on Tuesday, dissing Preakness winner Shackleford’s chances of winning Saturday’s final leg of the Triple Crown.

"I’m not worried about Shackleford, by the way," said Barry Irwin of Team Valor International, which owns Animal Kingdom. "I’m worried about Mucho Macho Man. I think he’s the horse to beat."

His comments drew oohs and aahs from those in attendance, including Shackleford’s trainer Dale Romans. When it was his turn to step up to the podium, Romans retaliated.

"That’s not the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard Barry say, but it’s one of them," Romans said to much laughter.

We will have to wait until Saturday to see if Irwin is right. Post time is 6:35 p.m. ET.

Belmont Stakes 2011 Odds: Animal Kingdom A 2-1 Favorite

Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby and runner-up in the Preakness Stakes, has been established as a 2-1 morning line favorite to win the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes Saturday, Jun 11 at Belmont Park in Elmont. Post time is 6:35 p.m. ET (NBC). Animal Kingdom, ridden by John Velasquez, will run from the ninth post position, one which SB Nation's anddownthestretchtheycome terms "a good spot."

Second choice in the morning line is not Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford, who some experts think will struggle to handle the Belmont's 11/2-mile distance. Second choice is Nehro, ridden by Corey Nakatani, at 4-1. Nehro finished second in the Kentucky Derby, but skipped the Preakness.

Shackleford is the third choice at 9-2. Running from the extreme outside 12th post position he will be ridden by Jesus Castanon. Master of Hounds, with Garrett Gomez aboard, and Mucho Macho Man, with Ramon Dominguez aboard, are both 10-1 in the morning line.

via assets.sbnation.com

Belmont Stakes Post Positions: Animal Kingdom Gets No. 9, Shackleford Gets No. 12

The post positions for Saturday’s 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes were drawn Wednesday morning, with Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford drawing the extreme outside 12th position and Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom got the ninth post position.

Shackleford trainer Dale Motion said “we expect to be on the lead.” The Belmont, the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, is a 11/2-mile race, the longest of the Triple Crown events.

1. Master Of Hounds (10-1)
2. Stay Thirsty (20-1)
3. Ruler On Ice (20-1)
4. Santiva (15-1)
5. Brilliant Speed (15-1)
6. Nehro (4-1)
7. Monzon (30-1)
8. Prime Cut (15-1)
9. Animal Kingdom (2-1)
10. Mucho Macho Man (10-1)
11. Isn’t He Perfect (30-1)
12. Shackleford (9-2)

— You can see more Belmont Stakes coverage in the SB Nation Belmont StoryStream. Not really a horse racing person, but wouldn’t mind plunking down a couple of bucks on New York’s biggest horse race? Check out SB Nation’s Beginner’s Guide To Following Horse Racing.

Belmont Stakes 2011 Post Positions: Draw To Be Held Wednesday Morning

Post positions for the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes will be held Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m. ET. The draw will be televised live on MSG Network, and streamed live from Belmontstakes.com. The Belmont, the final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, is set for Saturday, June 11 at Belmont Park in Elmont. Post time is 6:35 p.m. (NBC).

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford headline the field. Early odds show Animal Kingdom as a 5-2 favorite, with Shackleford at 9-2. Other horses considered contenders are Nehor (7-2), Master of Hounds (8-1) and Mucho Macho Man (8-1).

Other probable starters are Brilliant Speed, Isn't He Perfect, Monzon, Prime Cut, Ruler On Ice, Santiva and Stay Thirsty. Harlan's Hello is listed as possible.

-- You can see more Belmont Stakes coverage in the SB Nation Belmont StoryStream. Not really a horse racing person, but wouldn't mind plunking down a couple of bucks on New York's biggest horse race? Check out SB Nation's Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing.

Belmont Stakes 2011: Sizzling Showdown Awaits

The heavy final workouts for the 2011 Belmont Stakes are done. Now, we wait for Wednesday's announcement of the official field of entrants and the 'morning line' odds. In the meantime, let' scour the Inter-Google for some Belmont Stakes-related news and stories of interest.

Animal Kingdom-Shackleford Showdown Puts Sizzle Back in Belmont - NYTimes.com

The Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom arrived at Belmont Park on Sunday, ensuring that the 143rd Belmont Stakes will not lack in star power or drama. With the Preakness Stakes champion Shackleford already on the grounds, next Saturday’s race will be viewed through the prism of a championship showdown.

Neither Graham Motion, the trainer of Animal Kingdom, nor Dale Romans, who trains Shackleford, had to bring his colt to New York.

Animal Kingdom was a convincing two-and-three-quarter-length winner on the first Saturday in May, then came a half-length short of catching Shackleford in the stretch of the Preakness. Shackleford led the Derby field into the stretch and hung on to finish fourth.

In fact, the numbers show that most trainers and owners choose to take their one Triple Crown race trophy and go home, especially after running the first two legs. It will be just the 22nd time the winners of the first two Triple Crown races have tried to answer the question of who is the best 3-year-old in the land in the Belmont Stakes, the longest and oldest leg of the series.

Prime Cut a definite for Belmont - ESPN

Prime Cut, third in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes and runner-up in the Lexington Stakes (Grade 3), will head to New York on Tuesday for a run in Saturday's Belmont Stakes following a strong five-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Neil Howard described the work as "excellent," and said it earned the colt a trip to Belmont Park for Saturday's final jewel of the Triple Crown.

"We made the decision the other day that we'd go ahead and run, pending everything going good through this week," Howard said. "He's doing good. We don't feel like we've pushed or reached to much with him, and he's got a nice prep over Belmont. So we kind of left it that we'd go ahead if everything went well this morning, and it did."

BELMONT STAKES 2011: Pari-Mutuel Payouts Since 2000 - And Down The Stretch They Come
The Belmont Stakes, unlike the Preakness the precedes it by three weeks, is a race where favorites have performed relatively poorly over the last eleven years. Since 2000, only three favorites have won the Belmont Stakes - Afleet Alex, Empire Maker and Point Given. (A 27% success rate for favorites isn't a horrible number, it's a bit less than average when you look at the success of favorites nationwide, but it's much less than the Preakness.) While that doesn't help us to find the winner in the race during a specific year, it does give us clues as to whether the betting public is able to figure this race out year-after-year.

2011 Belmont Stakes: Three Final Workouts, All Different - NYTimes.com
The final works are complete for the main Belmont Stakes contenders. The three main protagonists, the Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Animal Kingdom, the Preakness winner Shackleford, and the Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro, all completed different types of works for their final tune-up, but their connections all made the right noises afterward to signal their happiness with their horses.

-- Saturday's 143rd running of the Belmont is set for a 6:35 p.m. ET post time.

2011 Belmont Stakes Odds: Animal Kingdom Still A Slight Favorite

Official odds for Saturday's running of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, will not be set until the field is official as of Wednesday morning. However, early odds are floating around and it looks like Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is considered a slight favorite over Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford.

According to Doc Sports, Animal Kingdom is currently 5-2, Shackleford 5-1, Nehro 7-2, Master of Hounds 7-1 and Mucho Macho Man is 8-1.

We will have more Belmont information at SB Nation New York later Tuesday as any news develops. Belmont post time Saturday will be 6:35 p.m. ET, and the race will be broadcast on NBC.

-- You can see more Belmont Stakes coverage in the SB Nation Belmont StoryStream. Not really a horse racing person, but wouldn't mind plunking down a couple of bucks on New York's biggest horse race? Check out SB Nation's Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing.

2011 Belmont Odds: Animal Kingdom Early Favorite

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is the early favorite over Preakness Stakes champion Shackleford for Saturday's 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. Live odds from Doc's Sports show Animal Kingdom at 5-2 and Shackleford at 5-1.

Nehro, second-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, is currently 7-1. Mucho Macho Man, who finished third in the Derby and sixth in the Preakness, is listed at 8-1. Mucho Macho Man's trainer, Kathy Ritvo, thinks the horse is "going to run well" in the Belmont.

SB Nation's fabulous horse racing website 'And Down The Stretch They Come' wraps up much of today's Belmont news -- including which favorites worked out and how well they ran.

Belmont post time Saturday will be 6:35 p.m. ET, and the race will be broadcast on NBC.

-- You can see more Belmont Stakes coverage in the SB Nation Belmont StoryStream. Not really a horse racing person, but wouldn't mind plunking down a couple of bucks on New York's biggest horse race? Check out SB Nation's Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing.

Belmont Stakes 2011: Shackleford, Animal Kingdom Appear Set To Duel

The 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes is set for Saturday, June 11 at Belmont Park, and all indications are that both Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford will be in the field. It looks like the winners of this year's first two Tripe Crown races will have plenty of company.

The Thoroughbred Times reported a few days ago that as many as 19 horses are considered possible entrants in the 11/2-mile event, the longest of the Triple Crown races. The maximum number of entrants is 16, and the record number of participants was 16 in 1983. A dozen horses were in the 2010 field. That race was won by Drosselmeyer. Per the Thoroughbred Times, if Animal Kingdom and Shackleford meet in the Belmont Stakes it would be the first time winners of the first two legs of the Triple Crown have met in the Belmont since 2005, when Afleet Alex and Giacomo were in the field.

Post time for the race is tentatively scheduled at 6:35 p.m. ET. Coverage on NBC will begin at 5 p.m. Versus will provide pre-race coverage from 3-5 p.m. and  race wrap-up from 7-7:30 p.m.

-- SB Nation New York will have your field, race odds, post positions and much more coverage as Belmont week unfolds. You can also check out SB Nation horse racing website, Anddownthestretchtheycome.