There will not be a Triple Crown winner again in 2011, but after one of the most exciting finishes of the year at the Preakness Stakes fans are looking forward to this year’s edition of the Belmont Stakes betting race as if there is still a chance there could be. Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom rallied from way back through the final turn to push eventual Preakness winner Shackleford to the limit before conceding the race, and that has set the stage for an incredible showdown in the final leg of the Triple Crown. With both the Preakness winner and the Derby winner set for run against one another, look for Animal Kingdom to have its day.If the Preakness had been run on the mile-and-a-half length at Belmont Park then online sports betting fans could very well be anticipating the chance for Animal Kingdom to be chasing the Triple Crown this upcoming weekend. The Derby winner narrowly missed out on catching Shackleford by less than a length at the final line, and if it can avoid another tough break out of the sports betting bonus gate there is nothing that will stand in its way in the final leg, even if Shackleford is running in New York.
There are 17 horses in the history of the Triple Crown that have managed to capture the final two legs, but Shackleford will not join that list after drawing the No. 12 position. There were question marks about whether or not trainer Dale Romans would even have the horse entered following a couple of big races, noting that Shackleford also placed fourth at the Run for the Roses back at the beginning of May. Animal Kingdom had to deal with a tough break that included getting caught up with several horses early on and failing to gain any online sports betting separation, but he will have a much better run after drawing post nine for the Belmont Stakes.
The horse with the best chance to challenge Animal Kingdom will be Nehro, the horse that finished second at the Kentucky Derby but didn’t run at the Preakness Stakes so that it can get more rest. That should mean that it has fresher legs than Animal Kingdom at the big race this pay per head weekend, but after finishing second in each of its last three starts it could be a case where the delay will keep it from reaching its potential in another anti-climactic ending. There is nothing that can be put against Animal Kingdom to win this race, especially considering how it has fared so far this season and the fact that it drew excellent post position. 11 other horses have completed the double win at the Derby and then the Belmont, and Animal Kingdom will be next in line to join that illustrious list and have its day on a sunny day at Belmont Park in New York this weekend.
