Animal Kingdom remains Belmont choice in Triple Crown poll

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From Thoroughbred Times: In the second of three weekly polls leading up to the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 11 Animal Kingdom continues to lead the way in the Thoroughbred Times Road to the Triple Crown poll of editors, reporters, and correspondents.

But challengers of the Leroidesanimaux (Brz) colt are beginning to narrow the gap a bit.

Voters rank their top ten selections each week through the Triple Crown with a first-place vote earning ten points, a second-place vote nine points, descending to one point for a tenth-place vote.

Nehro, a traditional deep closer, is doing just that as the Belmont draws nearer, moving past Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Shackleford to secure second place behind the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/06/01/belmont-stakes-poll-animal-kingdom.aspx

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1. Derby, Preakness Winners Still Going Strong

From Bloodhorse.com: Although most Triple Crown trainers admit their concern about having to run three grueling races in five weeks, Graham Motion and Dale Romans, trainers of Animal Kingdom and Shackleford, respectively, actually can’t wait for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Motion had expressed his concern about the two-week gap between the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I), but now says the Derby winner is “doing so great” he wouldn’t mind having two weeks between the Preakness and Belmont as well.

Romans said he is surprised how Preakness winner Shackleford keeps bouncing out of his grueling races and keeps moving forward after each race.

Despite Animal Kingdom’s second-place finish in the Preakness, Motion still speaks of the son of Leroidesanimaux with the same reverence he did after his impressive Derby victory.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63364/derby-preakness-winners-still-going-strong#ixzz1O9lmlYhG


Shackleford at Belmont on June 1