Shackleford, the Preakness Stakes winner, will work on Saturday at Belmont Park for the June 11 Belmont Stakes, and “if he works good, he’ll be there for sure,” trainer Dale Romans said Wedneseday morning.
Shackleford galloped 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning. It was his second day on the track there since arriving from Churchill Downs, where Shackleford returned following the May 21 Preakness.
“He’s acting good,” Romans said by telephone. “He jogged one day, and galloped one day, but so far, so good.”
Shackleford finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby prior to his victory in the Preakness. He, Derby winner Animal Kingdom, and Mucho Macho Man are all attempting to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown.
Ramon Dominguez gets mount on Mucho Macho Man
Ramon Dominguez, last year’s Eclipse Award-winning jockey, will ride Mucho Macho Man in the June 11 Belmont Stakes, his agent, Steve Rushing, informed on Wednesday.
Rajiv Maragh rode Mucho Macho Man in his last four starts - a victory in the Risen Star Stakes, a third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby, a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, and a sixth-place finish in the Preakness.