Triple Crown hopeful I’ll Have Another likely will face 12 challengers in the Belmont Stakes in his bid to become the first Derby/Preakness/Belmont winner since Affirmed in 1978, the Daily Racing Form reports.
Optimizer is the only Preakness Stakes starter other than I’ll Have Another likely to run in the June 9 Belmont.
Dreams dashed: Many Derby-Preakness winners run into trouble at Belmont
Trainer under scrutiny: Questions about drugs follow I'll Have Another trainer Doug O'Neill
Did it again: I'll Have Another runs down Bodemeister to claim Preakness Stakes
Bodemeister, who finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, won’t run in the 1 ½-mile Belmont. He flew back Sunday to California, where his trainer, Bob Baffert, is based, according to The Form. Baffert will saddle Paynter, who won an allowance race at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard Saturday, for the Belmont
The Belmont field may also include Derby starters Dullahan (3rd in the Derby), Union Rags (7th) and Alpha (12th). Atigun, Five Sixteen, Guyana Star Dweej, Mark Valeski, Rousing Sermon, Stealcase and Street Life, none of whom ran in either of the first two legs of the Triple Crown, are also pointed toward the Belmont, The Form reports.
While I’ll Have Another was putting away Bodemeister and the rest of the field at the Preakness on Saturday, Dullahan was working out at Churchill Downs, breezing five-furlongs in 1:00 1/5 on the fast main track, The Blood-Horse reports. It was the day’s second fastest time for the distance at Churchill.
Dullahan, who has earned over $1 million in his career, is a half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who was second to eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness and third in the Belmont behind Summer Bird and Dunkirk, The Blood-Horse notes.
“He came out of the Derby very well and (Saturday’s) work was good,” assistant trainer Baldemar Bahena said of Dullahan. “He will work again here next Saturday and then we will ship him to Belmont. He’ll have his final workout for the race up there.”
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