ELMONT, N.Y. - Traditionally, the nation’s premier jockeys and their agents would begin lining up, securing and then protecting the most coveted Triple Crown mounts from the moment the 3-year-old season begins each winter. But John Velazquez has proven over the past two seasons that a better strategy for winning Triple Crown races is simply to be available and in the right place at the right time.
In the jam-packed aisle of the Belmont Park box seat section, not long after the horses went under the wire in the 144th Belmont Stakes, Paul Reddam flattened himself against the railing as Michael Matz and the Union Rags entourage squeezed by, on the way to the winner’s circle. Matz paused long enough to commiserate once again with Reddam, but Reddam would have none of it.
"You’ve got a wonderful colt,” Reddam told the trainer.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Mike Smith took the blame for Paynter’s neck loss to Union Rags in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, a result that capped a torturous Triple Crown series for him, owner Ahmed Zayat, and trainer Bob Baffert.
This loss came five weeks after Bodemeister – ridden by Smith, owned by Zayat, and trained by Baffert – lost the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths to I’ll Have Another and three weeks after he lost the Preakness by a neck, also to I’ll Have Another. Essentially, they lost all three Triple Crown races by two lengths.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Back in the spring, Michael Matz, the trainer of Union Rags, envisioned that he would be going for a Triple Crown sweep in the 144th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park. He thought that much of Union Rags. But after a traffic-filled trip in the Kentucky Derby, in which Union Rags finished seventh, Matz skipped the Preakness, and pointed for a new prize, perhaps a consolation prize, but a major prize nonetheless.
ELMONT, N.Y. – On the day after, the connections of I’ll Have Another expressed gratitude for what they did achieve, not remorse for what they didn’t.
Trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez were still somber and subdued Saturday, 24 hours after their Triple Crown dreams were dashed when I’ll Have Another was found to have a tendon injury that not only forced him out of the Belmont Stakes, but prompted owner J. Paul Reddam to retire the colt.
Odds updated as of 5:50 p.m. Eastern
1. Street Life, 9-1
2. Unstoppable U, 10-1
3. Union Rags, 5-2
4. Atigun, 19-1
5. Dullahan, 3-1
6. Ravelo's Boy, 24-1
7. Five Sixteen, 16-1
8. Guyana Star Dweej, 21-1
9. Paynter, 4-1
10. Optimizer, 13-1
11. I'll Have Another, Scratched
12. My Adonis,19-1
ELMONT, N.Y. - Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another will have a ceremonial retirement in the Belmont Park winner’s circle prior to Saturday’s 144th running of the Belmont Stakes. The New York Racing Association had originally announced plans to have I’ll Have Another lead the post parade for the Belmont Stakes with jockey Mario Gutierrez aboard, a decision which led to a flurry of criticism throughout the industry.
ELMONT, N.Y. - With the scratch of I’ll Have Another from Saturday’s 144th Belmont Stakes, Dullahan has inherited the favorite’s role after the early wagering at Belmont Park.
With $115,869 in the win pool - counting only money bet at Belmont, Aqueduct or through NYRA Rewards - Dullahan was a slight 9-5 favorite over Union Rags (2-1).
The complete odds:
1 Street Life 8-1
2 Unstoppable U 14-1
3 Union Rags 2-1
4 Atigun 34-1
5 Dullahan 9-5
6 Ravelo’s Boy 36-1
7 Five Sixteen 18-1
8. Guyana Star Dweej 31-1
