A little more than an hour after I'll Have Another completed his usual morning gallop Tuesday at Belmont Park, he was safely tucked away in his stall in Barn 9, groom Inosencio Diaz standing alongside him.
I’ll Have Another and his quest to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 were obviously the center of attention at a special press reception held at Rockefeller Center on Tuesday afternoon in New York City. But it was trainer Dale Romans, whose Dullahan could provide I’ll Have Another with his toughest challenge in the race, who stole the show.
Join Daily Racing Form handicappers and correspondents Brad Free, Marcus Hersh, Byron King, and Jay Privman for a live handicapping chat this Thursday, June 7, starting at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Join Daily Racing Form handicappers Steve Andersen, Mike Beer, and Dan Illman for a live handicapping chat this Wednesday, June 6, starting at 5 p.m. Eastern.
John Servis, who trained Smarty Jones, offers this bit of advice to Doug O'Neill: Enjoy the ride, because it might take years for you to come back.
When I'll Have Another goes for the Triple Crown in Saturday's Belmont, owner Paul Reddam will have the support of Beverly Lewis, whose Silver Charm and Charismatic nearly pulled off the sweep in the late 90's.
When jockey Mario Gutierrez came to Pimlico to ride I’ll Have Another in the Preakness, he knew almost nothing about the race or the track. And so he studied - and won the race. Before Saturday's Belmont, Gutierrez might want to study film of these four illuminating Belmonts of the past to avoid the pitfalls that may await him.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is down to his last chance. After disappointing losses by Bodemeister in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes last month, the lightly raced Paynter starts in Saturday's Belmont Stakes as Baffert's final opportunity to earn a victory in the series of races he covets the most.
Racing jurisdictions around the globe have found a way to link three races and call it a Triple Crown. Some are more meaningful and logical than others.
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.
