Mike Watchmaker

As if to say, “Hey, all of you have pretty much ignored us all year, so we’re going to do something that can’t help but get your attention,” the 3-year-old filly division turned itself on its head Saturday.

Race dynamics are like fingerprints. No two are exactly the same. They can be similar, but not identical. That’s why it is always risky business saying that such and such a horse could have won a certain race if he or she ran in it instead of another race. That said, on Sunday morning, I doubt anyone didn’t at least for a moment think this: Royal Delta ran in the wrong race Saturday night.

[bc_video_id:254155:]Good morning from Belmont Park on a Belmont Stakes Day that doesn’t have anywhere near the buzz it would have had if I’ll Have Another was going in the big race. But I’ll Have Another will still be on the track here today, leading the post parade for the Belmont. I understand that all concerned parties are on board with this, and on one level I recognize that it is nice that fans will have the opportunity to show I’ll Have Another some love.

Stunned and bummed. That is probably the best way to describe the mood here at Belmont Park Friday after the news that a tendon issue, which first surfaced Thursday afternoon and really came to a head after he galloped Friday morning, will prevent I’ll Have Another from attempting his sweep of the Triple Crown in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. The issue has, in fact, forced his retirement.

Handicappers who have an appreciation for good work by trainers have to love the way Doug O'Neill has handled I'll Have Another. I’ll Have Another didn’t lose a thing when he took a planned, but very unconventional two-month break smack in the middle of the Triple Crown prep season. And when he returned with what could have been viewed as a draining victory in the Santa Anita Derby, I’ll Have Another didn’t regress in his next start. Instead, he moved forward in the Kentucky Derby, and moved forward form-wise yet again in the Preakness.