Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom has been confirmed as a starter in the Belmont Stakes.
Runner-up in the Preakness Stakes, Animal Kingdom is set for a rematch with Shackleford in the Belmont on June 11.
“We feel like we’re definitely going as long as the horse is good,” trainer Graeme Motion told the New York Racing Association.
“We want to be there. The horse seems to be doing really good. I’m so pleased with how he bounced out of it the last couple of days. All systems go.”
Animal Kingdom, who was beaten a half length by Shackleford in the Preakness, jogged 1-1/2 miles (2400m) over the dirt surface at the Fair Hill Training Center in northeast Maryland on Friday and would not start galloping until Sunday.
Motion also announced that a two-year-old half-brother to Shackleford arrived at his Fair Hill stable on Friday. The horse, owned by My Meadowview Farm, is by A.P. Indy.
“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” Motion said.
Nehro, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby is also among the likely acceptors for the Belmont which is the third leg of the US Triple Crown series.
Animal Kingdom and Shackleford were equal 13th with a mark of 121 on the latest world thoroughbred rankings released last week.
AAP TURF