Shackleford is 2011 Preakness Stakes Winner

It was expected that the 2011 Preakness Stakes winner would be Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby and therefore potential Triple Crown winner if he could earn a win today and then sustain his pace at the upcoming Belmont Stakes. However, it was Shackleford who took home the 2011 Preakness Stakes win, upsetting Animal Kingdom‘s quest for the Triple Crown.

The top three finishers for the 2011 Preakness Stakes are: Shackleford, Animal Kingdom and Astrology.

This morning, as Fundamentalist Christians prepared for their impending ascent to heaven, Animal Kingdom arrived at Pimlico shortly before 7 a.m. and settled in Stall 40, the traditional home of the Kentucky Derby winner. There are have only been 11 Triple Cown winners in history, with the last being Affirmed in 1978.

This year Pimlico would bring out the fastest group of horses for the 2011 Triple Crown and among them was inside runner Flashpoint, who made a fast sprint right out of the gate. However, Shackleford was very wound up before the race, while Dance City had to be practically be shoved into the gate.

Dialed In, the odds-on favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, only to have a disappointing finish, had taken a back seat to Animal Kingdom, but Shackleford, even though he was among the favorites, was still a surprise at Pimlico today.

This morning, Animal Kingdom‘s trainer Graham Motion told Jennie Rees of The Louisville Courier-Journal, “I just couldn’t be happier with how he’s doing. … I feel more relaxed today than I have all week, because I’ve done what I can do and it’s out of my hands now. I feel very confident. I feel confident in how the horse is doing, let’s put it that way.”

Astrology was also buzzing at the 2011 Preakness Stakes, with the morning lines opening at a 15-1 longshot. Owned by the late Jess Jackson, who also owned Curlin and Rachel Alexandra, Astrology was definitely a favored longshot.

Meanwhile, other favorites including Mucho Macho Man and Dialed in who also fared well at Pimlico today. The Belmont Stakes, the final and most demanding leg of the Triple Crown at 1.5 miles, goes down June 11, 2011. Be sure to get your Belmont Stakes odds in the Sports Interaction online racebook today. With people en-route to heaven, boxer Oscar De La Hoya announcing he’s entered rehab and Shackleford winning the Preakness, this day is one for the record books.