Animal Kingdom, Nehro put in final works for Belmont

Last updated: 6/6/11 4:05 PM

Animal Kingdom got the better of his workmate en route to a bullet half-mile

(Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) and NEHRO (Mineshaft), who
last faced each other in the Kentucky Derby (G1) where they finished
first and second, respectively, turned in their final preparations for
Saturday’s Belmont S. (G1) on Monday morning over Belmont Park’s fast
main track.

Animal Kingdom, with John Velazquez aboard, worked a bullet four
furlongs in :47 3/5, the fastest of 32 works at the distance. Animal Kingdom’s first quarter was achieved in :24, and he
galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 and six furlongs in 1:14 1/5.

The
Derby winner and Corredor Dela Isla (El Corredor), another colt owned by
Team Valor International, entered the track shortly before 9 a.m. (EDT)
following the renovation break and proceeded directly to the backside,
with Animal Kingdom breaking off about a length behind his workmate on
the outside. The pair came into the stretch on even terms, with Animal
Kingdom hitting the wire a head in front before galloping out strongly
on his own terms.

“He was half-way running off with me. I took him as slowly as I could,”
Velazquez said. “He got very competitive with the other horse. After he passed
him after the wire, he kept galloping very strong. He knew he had the jockey on
top of him because he just played with me.

“I wanted to put him behind the other horse, and I was almost clipping heels
galloping to the pole and I had to bring him to the outside of him, and he got
very strong galloping. I let the other horse start out a little bit in front of
me, and he sat off for about a sixteenth, eighth of a mile, and he got into the
bridle again.”

“(Velazquez) didn’t ask him at all. He did it all on his own,” trainer Graham
Motion said. “That’s why I only wanted to go a half with him because I figured
he’d gallop out pretty strong. He just hasn’t changed. He’s remarkable. He’s
taking everything in his stride and he hasn’t gotten worked up about it. You saw
how he was today. He couldn’t have been more laid back. That’s what’s impressed
me.”

Motion said he thought Animal Kingdom has handled his journey along the
Triple Crown trail extremely well.

“He just hasn’t changed,” Motion said. “It’s remarkable. He’s taken
everything in stride and hasn’t gotten worked up about anything. Physically, I
think he’s handled it great. I was worried about him after the Preakness, but it
was more because I thought, visually, he’d had a tough race. But he never gave
me any indication he’d had a tough race, and he recovered very quickly.”

The connections of Nehro were pleased with his final pre-Belmont breeze

(Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

The trainer added that having Velazquez, who is based in New York and
who won the 2007 Belmont with Rags to Riches, aboard was a plus.

“It certainly makes me feel a lot better,” he said. “I don’t know,
realistically, how much difference it really makes but I have to think
it does. This is his home track, and he’s won the race. It’s a very
quirky race and a very quirky track to run 1 1/2 miles. I have to think
it helps us.”

Animal Kingdom will likely jog tomorrow and then gallop up to
Saturday’s race, with a gate-schooling session or two on tap as well,
Motion said.

“He’ll go in the gate one day; two if necessary,” he said. “It’s
tough starting in the Belmont. They start right in front of the crowd
and I’ve seen a lot of horses get skittish. I think it’s important.”

Nehro, with exercise rider Cesar Garcia up, finished his move in :50
4/5. His opening quarter went in :26 1/5, and he galloped out five
furlongs in 1:04.

I thought he worked great, it was just exactly what the boss wanted,”
said Toby Sheets, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “We were very
pleased with him. He came back good, so onward and upward.”

Nehro, who
also finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G2),
bypassed the Preakness S. (G1) in favor of training up to a start in the Belmont S., a
move owner Ahmed Zayat hopes will pay dividends.

“I don’t want to be arrogant
because it’s racing, but I wish the race was tomorrow,” Zayat said. “There are
variables we can’t control once they gates are open, but we’re ready and we will
have no excuses. At a mile and a half, you’re going to see a different horse.
That’s the final word. We’re ready.”

Preakness winner SHACKLEFORD
(Forestry) jogged a full mile-and-a-half circuit of the Belmont track as he
continues preparations for a rematch with Animal Kingdom in the Belmont.

Shackleford jogged one lap of Belmont’s 1 1/2-mile oval on Monday

(Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com)

“He looked super,” trainer Dale Romans said. “He came out of his
(Saturday) workout very well, and we couldn’t be any happier with him
right now.”

Shackleford is scheduled to gallop on Tuesday. He is a half-sister to
Lady Joanne (Orientate), winner of the 1 1/4-mile Alabama S. (G1) in
2007.

Blue Grass S. (G1) winner BRILLIANT SPEED (Dynaformer), who finished
seventh in the Derby and skipped the Preakness to await the Belmont, is
due to complete his preparations for Saturday’s race with a five-furlong
work Tuesday morning.

“He’s doing great,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “He’s due to breeze
tomorrow with exercise rider Dan Blacker. Nothing too fancy; just let
him stretch his legs. He’ll go out after the break.”

Albertrani said that jockey Joel Rosario will be aboard for the
Belmont.