NEW YORK -- I'll Have Another's bid for a Triple Crown ended with the shocking news that the colt was out of the Belmont Stakes due to a swollen left front tendon.
According to Dennis O'Neill, brother of trainer Doug O'Neill, the horse galloped Friday morning and after a veterinary scan, the tendon seemed "kind of tender."
Dennis O'Neill told The Associated Press that "the horse is sound and happy, but it's not worth it."
Doug O'Neill, in an interview with "The Dan Patrick Show," said the horse being scratched is "not tragic, but it's a huge disappointment."
O'Neill will hold a news conference early Friday afternoon at Belmont Park.
After winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, I'll Have Another was on the verge of becoming the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978.
When Patrick asked Doug O'Neill if I'll Have Another has raced his last horse race, O'Neill said, "If I had to wager ... I would say yes."
O'Neill called an audible and sent I'll Have Another out for a final gallop in secrecy at Belmont Park on Friday morning. The colt jogged and then galloped around the 1½-mile oval accompanied by stable pony Lava Man.
O'Neill then declared his horse "fit and ready to go."
"We are just trying to let him bring as much energy to the table tomorrow as possible," O'Neill said early Friday. "We thought giving him an easy day the day before would be a good move. He stayed with coach Lava Man just to keep everything off-speed. I was very pleased with it. Perfect. We are ready to roll."
------------------------------------ Two A.M. on the 91 freeway lookin spooky, headed to this girl house to get my dooky. (c)
12. "you still betting this? ideas?" In response to Reply # 4 Sat Jun-09-12 11:42 AM by veritas
i'm thinking something along the lines of a 1-3-5-9 superfecta box.
not sure, though.
most of these other horse look like fking bums.
Unstoppable U's never gone more than a mile
Atigun's never finished better than 5th in a stakes race
same with Ravelo's Boy and he's never even run a grade 1
Five Sixteen's only won one race and it was a maiden race-never run a stakes-only one allowance
Guyana Star Dweej besides sounding like a fire strain of indica has run first or second his last five, but all but one have been maidens, so that doesn't mean much.
Optimizer seems to be somewhat live, but he's run both triple crown races already and run like shit. So he's probably somewhat worn down from already running like shit.
My Adonis I would like a bit in a much shorter race but watching the way he ran himself out at the Wood Memorial, with 3 less furlongs, I don't see any real way he stays up at the end. I tend to think he and Optimizer sprint out front and possibly fuck up Paynter's ride.
I'm told Street Life has the good closing chance, despite never going farther than 9 furlongs. I tend to believe it, for whatever reason.
I think it's gonna be Dullahan and Union Rags in the exacta box in some order. I tend to lean toward Dullahan. The way he closed at the Kentucky Derby was really impressive, he's pretty seasoned in stakes races, but he hasn't run since the Derby.
9. "yeah, thats what killed me, this was the most excited I've been" In response to Reply # 5
about a Triple Crown shot maybe ever aside from Smarty Jones.
But that was due to the local tie-in, I was back home at the time & Philly was so title-starved by 2004 that locally the Belmont was like another championship we almost literally came up short on (Stewart Elliot probably started him too early & Birdstone caught him around the stretch).
Smarty Jones was a speedster, this as you mentioned was a distance horse.....I was really starting to think this was gonna be the first Triple Crown of my lifetime tomorrow (full disclosure I was technically alive for Affirmed but still an infant).
