Next for Afleet Alex, Belmont Stakes 2005

A near-collision would've ended in disaster, instead Afleet Alex ran away to be the 130th Preakness Stakes victor at Pimlico on Saturday. And he sets his sights next on the 2005 Belmont Stakes in New York, June 11.

The incident only left Afleet with a scrapped ankle, according to trainer Tim Ritchey the son of Northern Afleet came out of the Preakness okay. "He seems to be fine,'' he said, "But what concerns me are muscle injuries because he was contorted in a way horses aren't meant to be. He walked well this morning, he ate everything and he certainly looks good now.''

Derby winner and Preakness third placer, Giacomo, will be shipped back to California and appears to be the only other Preakness starter being considered for the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont.

Nick Zito, who's been having bad days at the tracks, will be back at Belmont most likely with Andromeda's Hero (eighth in the Derby) and Pinpoint, who won the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard.

Other Belmont possibles include Buzzards Bay (fifth in the Derby), Southern Africa and Shamoan. The Belmont will be run for the first time in four years without a Triple Crown on the line.

The Belmont Stake is the oldest thoroughbred racing in the Triple Crown series. It's 137th running will be on June 11, 2005 at Belmont Park in New York.

Belmont, Belmont Stakes, Belmont 2005