Animal Kingdom enjoys quiet day; Shackleford gallops
|
While trainer Graham Motion traveled back to Maryland to attend the middle school graduation of his daughter, assistant David Rock oversaw a quiet day for Kentucky Derby (G1) winner ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]). The morning after working four furlongs in :47 3/5 seconds under jockey John Velazquez, Animal Kingdom did little more than jog a couple times around a pony track on the Belmont Park backstretch. "He looks great. He seemed fine today, 100 percent," Rock said.
The workout Monday, in company with a stablemate, was the best of 32 at the distance, but Motion said it was not designed to sharpen Animal Kingdom's speed for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.
|
"There was nothing clever about doing a sharp half," Motion said. "The fact
that he was pretty aggressive was because Johnny was on him and it was unusual
surroundings. Only Robby Albarado has worked him at Churchill. They know when
you put a jockey on them."
Rock said Animal Kingdom, who exits a half-length second to SHACKLEFORD
(Forestry) in the Preakness (G1), worked in company because "he's immature and
looks around a little bit, and he did that yesterday. He's not there yet. He's
still a little green."
Rock said Animal Kingdom always has been a fast work horse, and that there
are no tactical concerns about the Belmont, a race in which Shackleford figures
to run a far less demanding opening quarter-mile than the sizzling :22 3/5
seconds he faced in the Preakness.
"We'll let him run his race," Rock said. "He goes out and gallops and does
his own thing."
Motion said he and Velazquez were somewhat taken by surprise by how Animal
Kingdom broke in the Preakness, dropping 18 lengths off the pace after a
half-mile. The chestnut colt got away quickly from the gate in the Kentucky
Derby and largely steered clear of traffic.
"In the Preakness, we didn't encourage him to break sharply because he did it
the first time (in the Kentucky Derby)," Motion said. "It was only his second
time on dirt. The dirt was that much more dramatic at Pimlico. He took most of
it on his face. In the Derby, it was on his chest. It caught him by surprise."
Motion will return to New York and school Animal Kingdom in the starting gate
Wednesday morning after the break at 8:45 a.m. (EDT). The trainer then will
attend the draw breakfast on the fourth floor of the clubhouse, which begins at
9:30 a.m.
Preakness winner Shackleford had a one-mile gallop over Belmont's main track
this morning under exercise rider Fasuntino Agilar with trainer Dale Romans and
assistant Tammy Fox looking on from the apron in front of the grandstand.
Afterward, Romans spoke about the pace scenario in the upcoming Belmont
Stakes.
"If Harlan's Hello (Harlan's Holiday) wants to go to the lead and he can,
we'll set off him and use him for a target," Romans said. "If he's not in the
race, it looks like we'll be on the lead. All we're going to do, is get him in
stride, and sit there. Don't fight him. Either way, don't be sending, and don't
be taking hold. Just get him relaxed. He can be relaxed and still going fast."
Last year, the Romans-trained First Dude (Stephen Got Even) set the pace in
the 1 1/2-mile Belmont before being overtaken by Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor)
and Fly Down (Mineshaft) in the final sixteenth to finish third.
"I think Shackleford's got a little more turn of foot than First Dude had,"
he said. "First Dude was a little more of a grinder. Even though he showed speed
in going to the lead, he was more of a grinder. You had to make him do it a lot
more than this horse. Shackleford is more responsive when the jockey asks him."
Authors
Categories
FEATURED PRODUCTS
Daily Selections
Full racecard analysis/expert picks for major tracks from America's top handicappers.
Buy Nowe-ponies Picks
E-Ponies computer-based figures have been around since 1997. Using an algorithm written by the business owner and handicapper, Liam Durbin, and powered by BRIS data files, E-Ponies offers a unique, fact-based, dispassionate analysis of every horse in every race, assigning scores for speed, class, form, connections, and more. Forget which jockey owes you money! What does the data say!
Buy NowBruno With the Works
Bruno De Julio & team bring 30+ yrs experience observing racehorses to Brisnet with valuable insight into their morning routines & chances for success in the afternoons.
Buy NowValue Plays AI by Predicteform
Full race card program with easy-to-use win chances and contender classifications for every runner plus analysis of the Best Bet, Live Longshot, and Wagering Suggestions for every race.
Buy NowADVERTISEMENT