Track News
Filly Earns Berth After Rout At Canadian International Stakes
On Sunday October 16, 2011 Breeders Cup betting enthusiasts north of the border were able to watch a filly earn her way into the history books. During the Canadian International Stakes Race, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario Sarah Lynx was able to decimate an all male field. As a result, MLB World Series bettors are now shifting their attention to the track as they hope to see Sarah Lynx at the Breeders Cup in a couple weeks time.
Sarah Lynx was no match for a field made up of mostly males, as she made her 22 to one odds look like an absolute steal. The Grade I Canadian International Stakes purse of $1,488,320 was the largest purse of Sarah Lynx career. Trained by the legendary bookie software trainer John Hammond in France, Sarah Lynx was able to dip and dive through the field, before she and jockey Christophe Soumillion darted to finish the line. The lightly raced four-year-old filly was able to win the race by an impressive four lengths.
Sarah Lynx was able to continue a trend for 2011, which has seen more fillies upset male fields across the globe. Her victory Sunday at the Canadian International Stakes was the first win by a filly on the course since 1988 when the legendary filly Infamy accomplished the feat.
As we noted earlier, her trainers have run Sarah Lynx sparingly this season. However, with that being said, her trainers and owners have entered her in the right races for her to qualify for future major stakes races. For instance, with the victory on Sunday, should Sarah Lynx owners decide it is what they want to do, they can qualify her for the Breeders Cup Turf race on November 5, 2011.
Animal Kingdom Injured After Belmont Stakes
Sports betting handicappers watching the Triple Crown of horse racing for the last six weeks, received shocking news late last week, as it was announced that Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom suffered a broken left hind leg, at the Belmont Stakes. The injury took place, as a result of a collision with one of the other horses in the field, who cut off Animal Kingdom, forcing the horse betting favorite to stop abruptly to avoid making the collision worse. Today we look at the injury at what it means for Animal Kingdom’s future.
In an attempt to avoid the collision, the weight of Animal Kingdom’s body shifted towards its left hind leg as it pulled up during the race. As a result of the momentum shift, a crack in the cannon bone, connecting the horse’s ankle and foot took place. While the test results this week showed that the crack isn’t major, it had the potential to be. Essentially, early reports indicate, that the fracture could have been much worse, as the leg could have been broken and needed resetting. However, reports now indicate that Animal Kingdom will need to wear a cast for two weeks before taking another scan.
Ideally, Animal Kingdom will receive a much deserved break, after training intensely for the last few months in hopes of being named Triple Crown Champion. In theory, Animal Kingdom will resume training in late July, in order to prepare for the Breeder’s Cup action, set for early November.
Animal Kingdom along with rival Shackleford, made what was potentially one of the worst three year olds classes in the history of the Triple Crown, into one of the most exciting ones. When the Breeder’s Cup rolls around in November, fans should expect Animal Kingdom to compete at the event.
Belmont Stakes Odds
With less than a week to go until the Belmont Stakes betting race for 2011, bettors are scrambling to find good value on the 11 horse field. This morning, Belmont Stakes odds were released favoring several horses that have run in the first two stages of the American Triple Crown. Here is a look at the updated odds.
Animal Kingdom 2 to 1 – Animal Kingdom entered the 2011 Triple Crown bid as a long shot at best, opening the Kentucky Derby as a 20 to one odds underdog. Regardless of what the bettors thought, Animal Kingdom and new jockey John Velazquez were able to win the Kentucky Derby, and finish a close second at the Preakness Stakes. Animal Kingdom loves to come from behind to pull out its victories. However, entering the most grueling track in Triple Crown history, Animal Kingdom may feel overwhelmed at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Shackleford 9 to 2 – Shackleford is considered by many horse bettors and experts to be the hardest working three year old they have ever seen since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978. Through the first two stages of the Triple Crown, Shackleford has appeared to be a horse on a mission, having led each race from the gate to the start of the final stretch. Yet, at the Belmont Stakes, it is nearly suicidal for any horse to set the pace and maintain it for the entire race, as the one and a half mile course takes no prisoners. In fact, the last horse to jump out to an early lead and maintain it at Belmont Park, was Affirmed in 1978.
Master Of Hounds 8 to 1 – After finishing fifth at the Kentucky Derby by six lengths, Master Of Hounds skipped the Preakness Stakes in order to prepare for the Belmont Stakes. This horse is very comfortable on dirt tracks, and should once again be in contention for the victory, as it was at Churchill Downs six weeks ago.
Belmont Stakes Prediction
With just over three weeks to go until the third and final stage of the biggest tournament in horse betting, fans are scrambling to predict who will win the Belmont Stakes on June 11, 2011. This past weekend, Shackleford was able to redeem himself after a disappointing online horse betting finish at the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago. Here is our prediction for which horse we feel can win the toughest stage of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.
Based on the results of the first two stages of the Triple Crown alone, despite finishing in second at the Preakness, Animal Kingdom should in theory be able to win at Belmont Park in three weeks time. After starting near the back of the field in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Animal Kingdom was able to finish in first at Churchill Downs and a close second at Pimlico Racecourse. To be honest, the only reason Animal Kingdom was unable to catch up to Shackleford at the Preakness Stakes, was because Pimlico is the shortest track of the three to make up the Triple Crown.
In three weeks time on June 11, when the Belmont Stakes take place, a field of roughly 15 horses will be competing on one of the most grueling tracks in horse racing history. Set at one and a half miles, the Belmont Stakes were built for pace horses. However, if Shackleford does enter the third and final stage of the Triple Crown, we like this speed horse to finish on the podium. Recall, in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Shackleford led from wire to wire. Yet, due to the long distance at Churchill Downs, Shackleford fell short. With that in mind, it is fair to assume, that depending on post position, Shackleford is more than capable of leading from wire to wire again, but can it hold on with the extra distance?
Preakness Stakes Preview
In just under two week's time, the 2011 Preakness Stakes will be run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Known as the second leg of the Triple Crown of horse betting, the Preakness Stakes is one of the most exciting races in all of horse racing. Here is a preview of the upcoming race.
Two days removed from one of the best Kentucky Derby's in the last decade, and fans are still talking about 30 to one long shot Animal Kingdom's victory at Churchill Downs. For another consecutive year, the favorite going into the Kentucky Derby and the favorite going into the Preakness are two totally different horses. This past weekend, Animal Kingdom became the first horse in Kentucky Derby history to run on dirt for the first time at the Derby and win the race.
Animal Kingdom now ridden by former Uncle Mo jockey John Velazquez is expected to ride in the Preakness Stakes, on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course. As a matter of fact, Pimlico Race Course is actually the home track of Animal Kingdom, as Fair Hill Training Center, which houses Animal Kingdom on behalf of Team Valor is 60 miles away from Pimlico.
After teaming to win the Kentucky Derby this past Saturday, Animal Kingdom trainer Graham Motion and jockey John Velazquez, have worked out a deal so that Velazquez will continue riding Animal Kingdom, until the horse loses. In theory, because Pimlico is Animal Kingdom's home track, any talk of a loss should be all but forgotten.
Looking at the rest of the Preakness field, and fans will see that there are several good horses that will ride in this year's race. Mucho Macho Man who finished in third place, as well as Kentucky Derby favorite Dialed In will run in this year's Preakness. However, second place finisher Nehro withdrew after the Kentucky Derby, since its owners want the horse to qualify for a Breeders' Cup Classic position.
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