Belmont Stakes Profile: Nehro

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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The Kentucky Derby runner up, Nehro, will have his backers in this Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. He also finished second in the two races prior to the Derby, the Arkansas in April, and the Louisiana Derby in March. In both the Arkansas and Louisiana Derby he only lost by a neck, and yet three straight second place finishes is a bit of cause for concern. In fact, he has only one win in six career starts, and that was a 4 lengths win in breaking his maiden race.

Nehro is a $170,000 Keeneland Association September 2009 Yearling Sale, and is a well bred son of Mineshaft, who was the American Horse of the Year in 2003. Though Mineshaft never raced beyond 1 ¼ miles, he always gave the impression that he could go 1 ½ miles if needed. Mineshaft’s sire is A.P. Indy who won the 1992 Belmont Stakes tied for the second fastest time ever, running it in a time of 2:26 flat. It would seem then, that Nehro at least has the bloodlines to carry him the marathon distance of the Belmont.

The only thing that is a little troubling is the way that he made that quick move around the far turn in the Derby past Mucho Macho Man, ...
... and then kind of hung near the end as Mucho Macho Man came up to him again. Whether he moved a bit early or should have waited a bit, he wasn’t going to beat Animal Kingdom on that day.

Is there any reason to think he can beat Animal Kingdom in the Belmont? Horses from the A.P. Indy line do tend to mature well into their three year old season, and he has had 5 weeks from the Derby to grow and become stronger. Secondly, the margin of his loss to Animal Kingdom was less than three lengths. If he had lost by five lengths, then I might have to say that Animal Kingdom is just the better horse and he would have to count mainly on the Derby winner not running his best or not liking the 1 ½ distance. But the strongest thing Nehro has in his favor is that he will be well rested, unlike Derby and Preakness veterans Animal Kingdom, Mucho Macho Man, and Shackleford.

A win in the Belmont by Nehro would mark the first win in any of the Triple Crown races by his jockey Corey Nakatani. His trainer Steve Asmussen has won two Preakness Stakes, with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009, but has never won the Belmont.

Nehro had a workout Tuesday at Churchill Downs over six furlongs in 112 1/5 in the company of stable mate Dominus, and ran out a mile in 1:39. His connections were very pleased with how both 3-year-old colts went about their work, especially after his impressive second finishes in the Arkansas Derby and the Louisiana Derby,according to Asumssen’s assistant trainer Scott Blasi. Nehro will likely have a final work over the Belmont track Monday.

What do you think? Can Nehro get the job done this Saturday? Or is Animal Kingdom clearly the one to beat?