Animal Kingdom, Nehro put in final works for Belmont

by Vance Hanson

Animal Kingdom and Nehro, who

last faced each other in the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) where they finished

first and second, respectively, turned in their final preparations for

Saturday's Belmont S. (Grade 1) 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, 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 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 though 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 (Grade 2) and Arkansas Derby (Grade 2),

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 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.

"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. (Grade 1) in

2007.

Blue Grass S. (Grade 1) winner Brilliant Speed, 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.