2011 Belmont Stakes: All The Latest News and Updates

In less than 24 hours we will hear the call to the post for the 143rd edition of the Belmont Stakes. A few minutes later, all 12 starters will be "all in line," and in about two-and-a-half minutes we will know the winner.

We will be able to know if either Animal Kingdom or Shackleford would be the 51^st horse to win two legs of the Triple Crown, or whether another very capable horse would surprise them.

That another horse would beat them would not be really a surprise, as there are many contenders capable of beating them. But the fact that the hype is about the rematch between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners takes some of the focus away from the rest.

On paper and on many people’s mind, Animal Kingdom is the horse to beat and deservedly so. Therefore it is no surprise that most people expect to see him wearing the Carnations Blanket.

There is no certainty about the track conditions for tomorrow, with an off track possible. Forecasts call for showers for Saturday, with high temperatures of 73 degrees, and a 60 percent chance of rain.

There are no races on the main track between the Woody Stephens, posted for 3:59 PM EST, and the Belmont, more than two-and-a-half hours later with a post time at 6:35 PM EST. So there would be plenty of time to get it in the best condition possible.

The Belmont has a purse of $1 million, with $600,000 going to the winner. It will be the 11th race on a 13-race card that features six graded stakes races.

All preparations for this race are finished at this point. From now until post time, it's all about making sure the horses eat well, rest and are ready for tomorrow’s big race. Let’s see a quick review of all the contenders for the Test of a Champion.

Isn’t He Perfect’s last race was a ninth-place finish in the Preakness. His last workout was four furlongs in 0:51 flat on May 14 at Belmont. This is a horse that is simply running in a race above his possibilities.

Monzon finished sixth in the Peter Pan in his last race, and his last workout was a 1:16 flat for six furlongs May 31 at Sagamore. After beating Pants On Fire, the Louisiana Derby winner and Kentucky Derby runner in January, he has been a no show. He is unlikely to move forward at the Belmont Distance.

Ruler On Ice had a nice closing in his second-place finish at the Federico Tesio in his last race. His last workout is a 1:00 flat on May 27 at Monmouth. His strong race finishes suggest he might be suited for the Belmont, but his Beyer figures are well below the favorites. He needs to step it up to win.

Prime Cut was third at the Peter Pan in his last race. His final workout was four furlongs in :50 1/5 on May 25 at Churchill Downs. This horse has shown flashes of talent. He does need to improve to win, and could do it. But you have to question his stamina, after fading in the Peter Pan.

Stay Thirsty finished 12^th in the Kentucky Derby in his last race, and his last workout was a very good 1:12 for six furlongs on May 29 at Belmont Park. He always works great, but disappoints when running with Grade I competition. His pedigree suggests he should do well here, but his races say otherwise.

Brilliant Speed finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby in his last race and his last workout was five furlongs in 1:03 on June 1 at Belmont.

Santiva finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby in his last race and his last workout was five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 on May 28 at Churchill Downs.

Both Brilliant Speed and Santiva are horses that have improved in every race. They would still need to improve to win here. All signs point towards and improvement by them, so bettors beware.

Mucho Macho Man finished third in the Kentucky Derby and sixth last time out at the Preakness Stakes. His last workout was five furlongs in :59 2/5 on June 5 with his new jockey Ramon Dominguez.

Mucho Macho Man has two things going against him. He still has not found a way to keep Animal Kingdom from getting past him, and his sire’s progeny up to now, have been great up to a 1 1/8 miles.

Master of Hounds finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby in his last race. I have no record of any workouts since then. He stalked the pace early in the UAE Derby, and fell at the wire to the winner.  In the Kentucky Derby, he was taken back and finished well while working through traffic.

He is another horse that needs to maintain Animal Kingdom behind him before the stretch, to win here. Garrett Gomez could ride him like he did with Blame in the Breeders Cup against Zenyatta. If he does so, he can duplicate that result.

Nehro finished second in the Kentucky Derby in his last race. His last workout was furlongs in :50 4/5 on June 6 at Belmont Park. This will be Nehro’s seventh race this year. He really needed to skip the Preakness once he lost the Kentucky Derby.

The main concern here is that even with the five-week layoff, has he really recovered from those big races? In his next to last workout, one of his bests he was outlasted by his workmate. Can he really outlast Animal Kingdom?

Shackleford won the Preakness Stakes in his last race after finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby. His last workout was a strong five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 on June 4 at Belmont Park. A gutsy runner that will try to stretch it out here, he is looking sharp and poised.

His trainer is convinced that Shackleford will repeat his Preakness win, and be able to sustain his high cruising speed the whole 1 1/2 mile distance. Without a target in front to catch, he becomes the hunted,` not the hunter. Every time that has happened before, he has lost.

Animal Kingdom finished second to Shackleford in the Preakness in his last race after winning the Kentucky Derby. His last workout was an impressive four furlongs in :47 3/5 on June 6 at Belmont.

This horse looks amazing and his exceptional workout last Monday validates it. His jockey John Velazquez is based in New York and knows this track like his own house.

By now, his trainer and jockey should have revised every possible scenario and strategy his opponents may try, and have a counter measure for them.

The same could be argued about the other runners, but at the end, the one that has demonstrated to be just one notch above the rest is Animal Kingdom. Get your picks ready to add them to him in the exactas and trifectas.