The Daily Racing Form merged the betting from New York Racing Association outlets last night and published the following odds for the horses entered in the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes, which will start at 6:35 p.m. ET at Belmont Park, in New York's Nassau County. The new odds show slight movement away from Animal Kingdom, with Master of Hounds gaining interest as well as Santiva and Mucho Macho Man. Shackleford, with a morning line of 9-2, cooled off to 16-1. The morning line set by the race track on Animal Kingdom is 2-1, but betters have pushed that to 2 1/2 to 1.

The DRF's accumulated odds, as of last night at 6 p.m.:

1. Master of Hounds, 5-1

2. Stay Thirsty, 12-1

3. Ruler On Ice, 42-1

4. Santiva, 8-1

5. Brilliant Speed, 9-1

6. Nehro, 5-1

7. Monzon, 55-1

8. Prime Cut, 18-1

9. Animal Kingdom, 5-2

10. Mucho Macho Man, 6-1

11. Isn't He Perfect, 39-1

12. Shackleford, 16-1

The third race in thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, seems to be Animal Kingdom's race. But several spoilers will be running the 1 1/2-mile race against him on Saturday, including Preakness winner Shackleford.

Animal Kingdom was the subject of a raving article in The New York Times by racing maven Joe Drape, who wrote that the colt's workout on Monday suggested his best race may come Saturday in the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes. Other experts agree and are naming Animal Kingdom the horse to beat. The horse will be starting from the ninth post position.

He'll need to best Nehro again to do so. Nehro, trained by Steve Assmussen and ridden by Corey Nakatani, was lodged in second place for much of the Kentucky Derby. He sat out the Preakness in preparation for the Belmont, and his owner, Ahmed Zayat, is bullish on the colt's chances on Saturday. We're ready, he repeated a few times to reporters. Nehro currently sits at 5-1 among New York bettors, and could be a good horse in more exotic wagering scenarios.

Master of Hounds fought back from 15th place in the Kentucky Derby to pull within fifth at the conclusion, and his breeding suggests endurance. It might take the race of his young life to win the Belmont, but he has it in him. He'll be coming from the rail--Master of Hounds drew the first post position.

Santiva was also gaining on the leaders at the end of the Derby, and he will likely be a favorite among handicappers, with the morning line at 15-1 and the bettors pushing that down to 8-1.

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