I’ll Have Another’s bid to make history will take place Saturday, June 9th at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The product of Flower Alley and Arch’s Gal Edith, who won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in dramatic fashion, will attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 when he runs at this weekend’s 2012 Belmont Stakes. There appears to be plenty of quality horses among the field as the 2012 Belmont Stakes Contenders list also includes the likes of Union Rags and Dullahan. Still, the latest Horse Racing Odds are favoring I’ll Have Another at +125 on the moneyline to win the third and longest race of the Triple Crown Series.
I’ll Have Another spoiled Derby favorite Bodemeister’s strong bid at Churchill Downs on May 5th and he thwarted the colt’s run at the Preakness Stakes almost three weeks ago, but the Doug O’Neill trained colt will go from being the hunter to the hunted at Belmont Park this weekend.
After winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, I’ll Have Another wears the favorite target and there is no Bodemeister in the field this time around. Among those vying to derail I’ll Have Another’s Triple Crown bid are Derby runners Union Rags, Dullahan, and Optimizer as well as two horses with quality distance pedigrees in Paynter and Street Life.
Union Rags, one of the Derby favorites, finished an unexpected seventh at Churchill Downs and it did not run at the Preakness. Prior to the Derby, Union Rags, who is trained by Michael Matz (also trained 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro), had never finished worse than third.
Dullahan finished third at Churchill Downs after making a late charge similar to the one I’ll Have Another now famously showcased in catching Bodemeister. The Dale Romans’ pupil, a winner in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes as well as the Breeders’ Futurity, also possesses a notable distance pedigree. The colt’s bloodlines include 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled and Mr. Prospector. Mr. Prospector’s descendants include Belmont winners Empire Maker, Hansel, Birdstone, Summer Bird, Thunder Gulch, Point Given, Afleet Alex, Drosselmeyer, Victory Gallop, Conquistador Cielo, Commendable, Editor’s Note, Jazil, Lemon Drop Kid, and Ruler On Ice.
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2012 Belmont Stakes Contenders: Provided by SBG Global
I’ll Have Another +125
Dullahan +400
Union Rags +400
Paynter +800
Street Life +1250
Unstoppable U +2800
Atigun +3000
Optimizer +3000
Five Sixteen +4500
Guyana Star Dweej +4500
Revelo’s Boy +4500
