The 143rd Belmont Stakes is scheduled to take place on Saturday June 11, 2011 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York and Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is the favorite at 2-1 and a popular choice for those making Belmont Stakes picks. For the first time in Belmont history, eight of the twelve horses in the field also raced in the Kentucky Derby including the top seven finishers. Coming out of the #9 spot, despite coming up short in the Preakness Stakes Animal Kingdom has ran two great races so far leading up to the final leg of the historic Triple Crown. If you want to go back further, he has now won first or second in six straight races which included back-to-back 103 Beyer Numbers.

When trying to break down why not to take Animal Kingdom on Saturday, there are not many things you can come up with on why he will not become the 12th horse in history to win both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. If you forced me to come up with something, I would lean to the pending thunderstorm and that laying 2-1 on any horse in potentially sloppy conditions is a gamble when you look at the history of the race. Seven of the last twelve winners of the Belmont were not the favorite and paid long-shot bettors from $25.80 to $142.50 on the win.

John Velazquez will be riding Animal Kingdom for owner Team Valor International out of the nine spot and despite the odds (2-1), it would seem only a sloppy track could upset him today. In the event of rain the fact Animal Kingdom only has a 270 Tomlinson number has me a little concerned. The Tomlinson number is a  "mud figure" based on racing on wet tracks or historically how their pedigree has done on similar conditions. Shackleford has a 419 and Mucho Macho Man a 415, which might come into play depending what Mother Nature decides for bettors later today.

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Discussion: What reasons can you give on why Animal Kingdom will not win the Belmont Staks on Saturday?

2011 Belmont Stakes Picks and Predictions - Animal Kingdom
Pregame Pro Marco D'Angelo discusses the chances of Animal Kingdom winning the 2011 Belmont Stakes.