06/05/2012 11:27AM

Belmont Stakes 2012: I'll Have Another will not move to detention barn until Wednesday

By Jay Privman
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ELMONT, N.Y. - I'll Have Another  will not move to the stakes barn, a detention barn for horses running in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, until Wednesday, just before the deadline, trainer Doug O'Neill said Tuesday at Belmont Park.

::BELMONT STAKES: Video updates, expected field, early odds

O'Neill was desirous of moving into the stakes barn as soon as possible, and had hoped to move in Monday, but the barn was not ready for new occupants then. On Tuesday, O'Neill was obligated to attend a media luncheon in Manhattan. He said he wanted to be present for when I'll Have Another is moved, so the timing of the luncheon interfered with a planned Tuesday move. As a result, he will now wait until Wednesday.

O'Neill said that Lava Man, the former racehorse who is a stable pony for I'll Have Another, will not go to the detention barn. O'Neill said Lava Man does not react as well to change as I'll Have Another, and he was concerned the move, so close to the Belmont Stakes, would be "too nerve-wracking for him."

 

George Vietze More than 1 year ago
Too many changes---no nasal strips, moved to new barn, Lava Man not moved to new barn, trainer disruption because of media etc., etc., and hype--- Couple those changes with 4/5 odds - the trend is not your friend- That is not a freight train - its Dullahan closing down the stretch! Since the Triple Crown and lots of money at stake- last minute entry looks like "someone" purchased a "RABBIT" - You guess who? Who benefits the most and who has the money? Let the games begin - can't wait for Saturday!!!
JoyJackson21 More than 1 year ago
I'll Have Another is a pretty good-natured horse. I don't think any of this will upset him, including not having Lava Man with him. I want Lava Man to feel content and comfortable as well. IHA seems to take everything is his stride - that's evident just looking at the videos of him on the track and in the barn areas in all of his races this year. All of the crowds and lights and cameras don't seem to make him twitchy, even as each win he garnered insured that there would be more and more media and their equipment around him - even while he takes baths - like it would many other horses. This whole situation enacted by the NYRA is inconveniencing all of the horses and teams, and quite frankly this operation is not being run all that efficiently by them. This whole thing has a slap-dash, hastily put together feel to it. They should have had the detention barn finished over the weekend, that way anyone who wanted to move in early in the week this week could do just that and get settled in and adjusted, IHA's team or anyone else's team for that matter. I just hope every precaution has been taken for all of the horses's comfort. That is paramount in all of this.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Typical reaction when dorks are in charge. Let the horseman decide how to handle the issues at hand. There are plenty with integrity. It appears to be a circus in the media. Good Luck NY, Mike from Hillbilly KY
nancyb More than 1 year ago
After watching the video of IHA's bath, I'd say if there were any chance that a horse would take a disruption of this magnitude in stride, it would be him. He appears to have the demeanor and excitatability of a Golden Lab. I'm sorry he can't have his "pony" accompany him, but I was thinking that Lava Man's nerves might be jangled by the change. He still seems to have quite the attitude -- I just hope his coaching IHA on big race tactics is complete. I used to think that the CHRB(CA) was a little off in their decision-making but NYRA has got them beat. Aren't there any a)hands-on horseman or b) common-sense pr people in the group? It's not like O'Neill's barn fridge was stocked with drugs and hypodermics.
Laura Coronado More than 1 year ago
The detention barn was not NYRA's idea but the State Wagering Boards idea. While NYRA isn't perfect, don't blame them for decisions that aren't theirs.
Jordan Sickman More than 1 year ago
All horses will be equally affected by this silliness. No advantage or disadvantage to IHA methinks.
anonymous More than 1 year ago
Maybe none of the horses will like the "fresh paint" these officials have so proudly applied to stalls. I know the smell of paint doesn't do alot for people.
MaryAnn Donahue More than 1 year ago
I hope they had the good sense to use low or non-VOC(volatile organic compounds) paint. The smells of new paint are toxic and these horses should not be exposed to it. But is their health and well-being really being considered or is this detention barn more window dressing than truly protective.
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
Don't be ridiculous. If it takes 5mL of snake venom to kill a human being, it will take more than 50mL to kill a horse. 10-20mL is perfect for use as illegal performance enhancer. Really, unless a human painter dies while applying fresh paint to the barn, the paint will not affect the horses at all. It will take a paint so toxic that the fumes could kill the racing secretary sitting in his office to do real harm to the horses.
Sue Kawczynski More than 1 year ago
Doesn't say in article that the stalls were freshly painted ... did you read this somewhere else?? Painting wouldn't be good at this point
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Maybe IHA reacts to change so well because of the presence of Lava Man. :\ Who's to say? Time will tell.
Jan Larroche More than 1 year ago
NY is really blowing this, they should be ashamed of the way this has gone, looks a little crooked to me.