2011 Belmont Stakes Picks
A field of 12 horses is expected to be sent off on Saturday at Belmont Park for the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes. I have broken down the field and isolated six horses with a legitimate chance of winning the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown.
Animal Kingdom (2/1) – The Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness Stakes runner-up has been Mr. consistency through six career starts with three wins and three places. The most impressive horse in this year’s Triple Crown series won the Derby by 2 3/4 lengths with a strong finishing kick but came up shot by a 1/2 length in the Preakness. While his post draw did him no favors (only four Belmont winners have come from the No. 9 post since 1905), Animal Kingdom certainly has the makeup to become the 12th horse to pull off the Kentucky Derby-Belmont Stakes combination.
Nehro (4/1) – Of all the horses in the field, Nehro may be able to get the 1 1/2 mile distance the best. The son of Mineshaft, who produced 2007 Belmont winner Rags to Riches, has taken second place in his last three races (Louisiana Derby, Arkansas Derby, Kentucky Derby) while appearing to have plenty left when crossing the finish line. His legs should be very fresh after sitting out the Preakness.
Shackleford (9/2) – After taking fourth place in the Kentucky Derby, Shackleford bounced back to win the Preakness Stakes. 21 horses have won the Preakness-Belmont combo, but this front-running speed horse will certainly have his work cut out for himself with the 1 1/2 mile path. You see, Shackleford nearly led wire-to-wire in the 1 1/4 mile Derby before running out of gas late. History is against him as well considering no Belmont winner has ever come from post No. 12.
Mucho Macho Man (10/1) – Triple-M has been a magnet for the money with eight finishes of third or better in 10 career races. The third-place Derby finisher took a disappointing sixth in the Preakness, but he also lost a shoe out of the gate. That little goof up actually plays in the favor of Mucho Macho Man backers. He would not be showing this kind of value had he hit the board. I like the way he handled the Kentucky Derby distance and should be able to handle 12 furlongs as well.
Master of Hounds (10/1) – The fifth-place Derby finisher has no wins to his name but has a chance to make a statement Saturday. One of the best jockeys on the planet, Garrett Gomez, gets the mount, and this duo will have the benefit of the lucky No. 1 post which has produced a record 23 winners in this race.
Brilliant Speed (15/1) – Brilliant Speed had strung together six straight finishes in the top three before running a disappointing seventh in the Kentucky Derby. I’ll be looking to use this “turf horse” in some of my exotics if the weather cooperates. His chances of winning go way down on a sloppy track.
2011 Belmont Stakes Predictions – Win: Nehro, Place: Animal Kingdom, Show: Mucho Macho Man
Past Belmont Stakes Picks
