ELMONT, N.Y., June 8, 2012 — Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, I’ll Have Another has been scratched from the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, thus dashing the hopes for a Triple Crown winner this year.
Trainer Doug O’Neill revealed the decision to pull the champion out of the race this morning during an appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show.”
It appears the cause of problem is possible tendonitis in the horse’s left front leg. “We scanned his left front leg and he’s got the start of tendonitis going on in his front leg. He’s not 100 percent and we ain’t taking any chances,” O’Neill said. “I’m just so bummed for the horse, obviously, and then for the whole team.”
It appears from what O’Neill has said, I’ll Have Another’s racing days are through and that he will become a million dollar stud. “But he’s valuable and I know he’s going to have tons of options with different breeding farms to have him stand somewhere. I’d love to see him back in my barn in a few months, but realistically he’ll probably be seeing a lot of beautiful mares and smoking a lot of cigarettes.”
Cutaway image of a horses forelock
The New York Racing Commission has scheduled a press conference at the barns for 1:00 p.m. today with I’ll Have Another. Meanwhile the news of horse’s injury spread like wildfire that the Belmont favorite was officially scratched from tomorrow’s race.
O’Neill put it into perspective, saying: “It’s not tragic, but it’s a huge disappointment.”
More details to follow.
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