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.
