2011 Belmont Stakes Horses

Written by -

Here are a few cliff notes on the 13 horses expected to run in Saturday Belmont Stakes:

Animal Kingdom (+200) – Animal Kingdom was a +2000 long shot when he won the Kentucky Derby. That performance elevated him to the favorite in the Preakness Stakes at +270. His second place showing at Pimlico a few weeks back was good enough for him to retain the favorite role in the third and final leg of the Triple Crown this Saturday. One has to like the fact that this horse has taken second place or better in his six races. He has found the winner’s circle in three of those races.

Nehro (+400) – Nehro has taken second place in his last three races (Arkansas Derby, Louisiana Derby and Kentucky Derby) and could finally be poised to break through with a win. Sitting out the Preakness could give him an edge over other contenders like Animal Kingdom, Shackleford and Mucho Macho Man. Plus, you might say he’s bred for this race. Nehro is the son of Mineshaft, who produced 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches.

Shackleford (+450) – Shackleford got out fast in the Preakness Stakes, just as he did in the Kentucky Derby, but this time he was able to hold on for the biggest win of his career. The Preakness is a 1 3/16-mile race while the Derby is 1 1/4 miles. Shackleford was caught by the stalkers in the home stretch at Churchill Downs, which could be indicative of what to expect in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

Mucho Macho Man (+600) – A sixth-place finish in the Preakness Stakes isn’t enough for me to turn my back on Mucho Macho Man. The third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby has still finished third or better in eight of 10 career races, and his showing on the first Saturday in May indicates he should be able to get the distance. His consistency makes him a solid option for your exotics.

Master of Hounds (+1200) – This lightly run colt has third and second-place finishes in four career races and took fifth in the Kentucky Derby in his first race on dirt.

Stay Thirsty (+1800) – This Todd Pletcher horse, which has finished second or better in four of seven starts, is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 12th-place showing in the Kentucky Derby.

Prime Cut (+2000) – This horse, which hasn’t yet seen this level of competition, has his skeptics, but his six straight finishes of third or better can’t be ignored.

Monzon (+4000) – This gelding has two wins and a show in seven career races.

Ruler On Ice (+4000) – This three-year-old gelding has finished third or better in each of his last four races.

Harlan’s Hello (+4000) – This inconsistent performer has four finishes of third or better in eight races.

Isn’t He Perfect (+4000) – This horse isn’t getting much love from odds makers after a ninth-place finish in the Preakness Stakes.

About the Author: Jimmy Boyd is known for his consistency. He's a proven winner in college and pro football, college and pro basketball and pro baseball. He finished as the No. 1 ranked MLB handicapper in 2007 by earning $1,000/game bettors $50,050. He also finished as the No. 1 ranked basketball handicapper in the 2008-09 season, profiting $1,000/game bettors 38,530. His basketball plays have banked $1,000/game bettors nearly $80,000 the last five years. Check out Jimmy's premium picks for tonight!
Connect with the author via: Twitter - Google+
WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.