"THE BARTENDER'S EXACTA"

…A perfectly good name for the the outcome of the yesterday’s Belmont Stakes when Ruler On Ice and Stay Thirsty upset the final jewel of Triple Crown in what can only  be described as a disappointing outcome...Well, it obviously didn’t disappoint Ruler On Ice’s connections – jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., trainer Kelly Breen and owners George and Lori Hall.

Preakness winner Shackleford led from the start, but when the field of 12 turned for home in the 1 1/2 -mile  Belmont, 24-1 long shot Ruler on Ice took over winning by three-quarters of a length.  Stay Thirsy’s second place finish was small consolation to owner Repole Stable whose Uncle Mo was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby only to scratch because of illness.

The much-hyped contest between Shackleford and Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom never materialized as Animal Kingdom was involved in an incident just after leaving the gate almost losing jockey John Velazquez.  Velazquez showed some spectacular athleticism by merely staying aboard, but the popular Derby winner lost too much ground to make up.

Brilliant Speed finished third followed by Nehro, Shackleford and Animal Kingdom.

An elated Valdivia, riding in his first Belmont, described the final seconds before crossing the finish line.

“I’m a couple of yards from the wire and I’m thinking, `Oh my god, oh my god, I’m going to win the Belmont,”’ he said.

Ruler On Ice paid $51.50 to win and the $2 exacta with Stay Thirsty paid $928.

We did not have it. Damn.

To see the full results, click here. 

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Jose Valdivia, Jr. rides Ruler On Ice #3 to victory during the running of the 143rd Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 11, 2011 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The statue of Virginia-bred Triple Crown winner and Disney movie star Secretariat as seen  prior to the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 11, 2011 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

TWELVE TO TRY $1 MILLION BELMONT STAKES

SHACKLEFORD (Al Bello/Getty)

Twelve three-year-olds will look to win the carnations in the $1 million Belmont Stakes, the final leg of horse racing Triple Crown.  Although there will be no Triple Crown winner again this year, the Belmont field includes Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness winner Shackleford.

For the 22nd time in history, the Belmont Stakes will serve as the rubber match between the individual winners of the first two races in the Triple Crown. The scorecard, in terms of Belmont wins, reads Preakness 10, Derby 5, with Afleet Alex the most recent Preakness winner to vanquish the Derby victor, taking the 2005 Belmont in which Giacomo, longshot winner of the Run for the Roses, finished seventh.

One has to go back to 1984, when Swale bested Preakness winner Gate Dancer, for a Belmont in which the Derby winner emerged victorious in a showdown. In spite of history, Animal Kingdom was tabbed the 2-1 favorite by The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) oddsmaker Eric Donovan, with Shackleford the third choice at 9-2 in the 12-horse field.

The Belmont Stakes has a 6:35 pm post time and will be telecast nationally on NBC beginning at 5 p.m., with coverage on VERSUS from 3-5 p.m. VERSUS will also carry post-race coverage from 7-7:30 p.m.

To see the full field, click here.

To read more, click here.

The Gold Cup blog likes Animal Kingdom, Nehro and Master of Foxhounds – in that order!  That said, if Shackleford will rate, he wins in a gallop…

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Animal Kingdom looks on after a morning training session in preparation for The Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8, 2011 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Exercise riders take two horses out for a morning gallop prior to tomorrow’s Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.  (Photo by Al Bell/Getty Images)

Master of Hounds, with exercise rider Pat Lillis up, gallops on the track during a morning training session in preparation for The Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9, 2011 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Exercise rider Carlos Rosas rides Nehro during a morning training session in preparation for The Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9, 2011 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Viscount Nelson gets a bath after a morning training session in preparation for Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 9, 2011 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Jockey Mickael Barzalona (L) pats his mount Pour Moi after winning The Investec English Derby, Treasure Beach came second and race favorite Carlton House came third place during the second day of the Epsom Derby Festival, in Surrey, southern England, on June 4, 2011. The Queen's horse, Carlton House, ridden by Ryan Moore, was seeking to be the first Derby winner owned by a reigning monarch since Minoru won in 1909 for King Edward VII. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

A runner makes its way to the start at Lingfield racecourse on June 02, 2011 in Lingfield, England.  (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Runners turn away from the grandstands in The Bet At bluesq.com Stakes at Haydock racecourse on May 28, 2011 in Haydock, England.  (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

French jockey Thierry Majorcryk (r) on Remember Rose and Irish jockey Philipp Carberry on Pibrac jump up the 'Riviere des Tribunes' during the Gras Savoye Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris horse racing on May 29, 2011 at the Auteuil racetrack in Paris.  (Photo by Bertrand Langlois/AFP PHOTO)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Jockey Jesus Castanon guides Shackleford #5 (blue cap) out of the fourth turn to victory over Animal Kingdom and jocky John Velazquez #11 to win the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 21, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland.  Virginia-bred Dixie Colony (yellow silks left) finished fifth. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Kentucky Derby Winner Animal Kingdom walks in the Stakes Barn led by Dan Rock after arriving at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 21, 2011, in Baltimore. Animal Kingdom is set to run in the Preakness Stakes race today. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

Jockey Jose Lezcano and Royal Delta cross the finish line to win the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. Royal Delta is owned by Palides Investments N.V., Inc. and trained by Bill Mott.  (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

LOCAL HERO SET TO RUN IN PREAKNESS

DANCE CITY

Born just 25 minutes from Great Meadow, the home of the Virginia and International Gold Cups, the Estate of Edward P. Evans’ Dance City will challenge Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom in tommorrow’s Preakness Stakes Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland.

The handsome Virginia-bred, who just missed winning the Arkansas Derby in his last start is part of a full field of 14 in the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown.

Other horses born in Virginia that have won the Preakness include Triple Crown winner Secretariat, Pleasant Colony (he won the Derby and the Preakness), Hansel and Hill Prince.

Here is the field in post position order:

1. Astrology (A. P. Indy x Quiet Eclipse by Quiet American) - Owned by Stonestreet Stable and George Bolton and trained by Steve Asmussen, Mike Smith.

2. Norman Asbjornson (Real Quiet x Merryland Missy by Citidancer) - Owned by Thomas McClay and Harry Nye and trained by Christopher Grove, Julian Pimental.

3. King Congie (Badge of Silver x Wise Ending by End Sweep) - Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Rom Albertrani, Robbie Albarado.

4. Flashpoint (Pomeroy x Two Punch Lil by Two Punch) - Owned by Peachtree Stables and trained by Wesley A. Ward, Cornelio Velasquez.

SHACKLEFORD

5. Shackleford (Forestry x Oatsee by Unbridled) - Owned by Michael Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge and trained by Dale Romans, Jesus Castanon.

6. Sway Away (Afleet Alex x Seattle Shimmer by Seattle Slew) - Owned by Batman Stable, Philip Lebhert, Cindy Olsen, Janet Sharp and Glen Wallace and trained by Jeff Bonde, Garrett Gomez.

7. Midnight Interlude (War Chant x Midnight Kiss by Groom Dancer) - Owned by Arnold Zetcher and trained by Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia.

8. Dance City (City Zip x Ballet Colony by Pleasant Colony) - Owned by the Estate of Edward P. Evans and trained by Todd Pletcher, Ramon Dominguez.

9. Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno x Ponche De Leona by Ponche) - Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team One Racing and trained by Kathy Ritvo, Rajiv Maragh.

DIALED IN

10. Dialed In (Mineshaft x Miss Doolittle by Storm Cat) - Owned by Robert V. LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito, Juien Leparoux.

11. Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux x Dalicia by Acatenango) - Owned by Team Valor International and trained by H. Graham Motion, John Velazquez.

12. Isn't He Perfect (Pleasantly Perfect x Raciclada by Rictorious) - Owned by Kharag Stables and trained by Doodnaugh Shivmangal, Edgar Prado.

13. Concealed Identity (Smarty Jones x Richetta by Polish Numbers) - Owned by Linda Gaudet and Morris Bailey and trained by Eddie Gaudet, Sheldon Russell.

14. Mr. Commons (Artie Schiller x Joustabout by Apalachee) - Owned by St. George Farm Racing LLC and trained by John Shirreffs, Victor Espinoza.

The Preakness, second gem in horse racing's Triple Crown, will run Saturday, May 21, at Pimlico. Post time is 6:25 p.m. ET.

PICTURES OF THE DAY

 Preakness entry Dance City is bathed outside the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course on May 19, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The 136th running of the Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

 A horse works out during early morning at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, Maryland, May 19, 2011. The 136th running of the Preakness Stakes will take place at Pimlico Saturday May 21, 2011.  (Reuters Photo)

Trainer Ed Dunlop's string of horses return from the Warren Hill gallops on May 19, 2011 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Horses are trained on the track at Pimlico Race Course on May 19, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The 136th running of the Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Exercise rider David Nava takes Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entrant Animal Kingdom over the track at the Fair Hill Training Center on May 17, 2011 in Elkton, Maryland. Animal Kingdom is training for Saturday's 136th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Frankie Dettori riding Club Oceanic leaps from the horse towards his mother who is in the crowd after winning The Paul Spencer 50th Birthday stakes at Goodwood racecourse on May 18, 2011 in Newbury, England.

In this photo provided by the New York Racing Association, Alternation, ridden by Rajiv Maragh captures The Peter Pan Grade II horse race at Belmont Park, in New York on Friday, May 14, 2011.

This photo taken on May 16, 2011 shows visitors admiring a clay horse from the Terracotta Warriors from the Qin Dynastry (221BC -206 BC) on display at the Ancient China Exhibition at China's National Museum in Beijing. (Getty Images)

Ahmed Zayat said Tuesday morning that Kentucky Derby runner up Nehro will not go in Saturday's Preakness.  "He couldn't look any better. His work on Monday was absolutely awesome. I'm just concerned about him having four hard races in eight weeks, even if, outwardly, he doesn't appear to be showing it.” Up next: The Belmont.

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Exercise rider David Nava takes Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entry Animal Kingdom (L) back to the barn with assistant trainer David Rock (R) after training at the Fair Hill Training Center on May 17, 2011 in Elkton, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Hot walker Noe Lagunas holds Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entry Animal Kingdom at the Fair Hill Training Center on May 17, 2011. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom with David Nava aboard gets a morning workout at the Fair Hill Training Center on Monday, May 16, 2011 in Fair Hill, Md. Animal Kingdom and his trainer Graham Motion are preparing for the 136th Preakness Stakes race Saturday in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jim Dietz)

Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entry Animal Kingdom grazes after a morning workout at the Fair Hill Training Center on May 17, 2011 in Elkton, Maryland.  (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Runners leave the stalls from the six furlong start at Newbury racecourse on May 14, 2011 in Newbury, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 16 in Cape Canaveral, Fla, on Monday, May 16.  (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Jockey, Martin Dwyer riding Theyskens' Theory (pink silks) on the way to winning the sportingbet.com Fillies' Stakes (Registered As The Michael Seely Memorial Stakes) during York Races at York racecourse on May 13, 2011 in York, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Paul Hanagan riding Miss Work Of Art (L, blue) win The Langleys Solicitors EBF Shirocco Fillies' Stakes at York racecourse on May 13, 2011 in York, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Bruce Springsteen walks to the grandstand to watch his daughter Jessica compete in the Grade A jumping competition during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, Berkshire, on May 13, 2011. The horse show is the largest outdoor equestrian Show in the UK, with over 3000 horses and ponies taking part in more than 250 jumping, showing, and carriage driving classes. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER ARRIVES IN MARYLAND

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom was loaded early yesterday morning onto a van headed for Elkton, Md., where the 3-year-old chestnut colt will prepare for the Preakness Stakes on May 21 at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, MD.

Owned by racing partnership Team Valor International, Animal Kingdom was joined in the van by his groom, Porfirio Fernandez, and Summer Soiree, another horse trained by Graham Motion.

Animal Kingdom will stay at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton. The nearly 700-mile drive took approximately 11 hours.

“Just peace and quiet here,” said Dave Rock, assistant trainer for Motion, who left for Maryland on Monday. “Now we start all over again.”

Animal Kingdom has walked daily in Churchill Downs’ Barn 22 since Saturday’s race and will make his return to the track for a jog in Maryland on Wednesday.

“We always walk them for three days and then start back training,” Rock said.

With the short two-week turnaround heading into the Preakness, Rock anticipated that the horse would not work between races.

“We don’t usually run horses in two weeks, either. But you kinda have to at this point, right,” Rock said with a chuckle.

Animal Kingdom’s Derby win was his debut on dirt, a first in the history of the race. A win in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness would set up the chance to be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The third and final leg of the series, the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes, will run June 11.

(Photos by Baltimore Sun’s Karl Merton Ferron / May 10, 2011)

MORE GOLD CUP PHOTOS

A sample of photographer Liz Callar’s photos from Saturday’s Livingsocial Virginia Gold Cup.

To see more click here.

 Here’s a different angle of He’s A Conniver’s crash at the second fence and the subsequent havoc caused.

Bon Caddo