Triple Crown Thoroughbred Racing Thread

[Arethusa]

[I've renamed this thread about I'll Have Another's chances of winning the 2012 Triple Crown - dashed when he was scratched for tendinitis on Friday afternoon, June 8th - to "Triple Crown Thoroughbred Racing Thread" for use in following years by those who follow this annual event.

The Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs near Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May.

The Preakness Stakes are held at Pimlico Race Track near Baltimore, Maryland on the third Saturday in May.

The Belmont Stakes are held at the Jockey Club in Elmont, NY near NYC three Saturdays after the Preakness.

The last time we had a Triple Crown winner was 34 years ago in 1978, when Steve Cauthen piloted Affirmed into the Belmont Stakes winner's circle.]

*****

This is the remainder of the post from Friday, June 8, 2012:

This year, I'll Have Another has a shot that we'd be remiss in not noting here at The Outpost if he does succeed in pulling it off with talented young jockey, Mario Gutierrez, in the driver's seat.

His competition is formidable, with Dullahan, Paynter (another Baffert/Zayat connected horse like Bodemeister) and Union Rags, a Philadelphia area entrant trained by Olympic Equestrian Champion, Michael Matz.

Here's a link to a report of "Five Things to Watch" that might impact upon I'll Have Another's ability to achieve thoroughbred racing immortality in a race starting tomorrow evening at 6:40 p.m., EDT, on NBC for those of you who are inclined to watch.

msn.foxsports.com/horseracing/lists/Belmont-Stakes-five-things-to-watch-as-Ill-Have-Another-bids-for-Triple-Crown-060712#photo-title=Blanket+finish%253F&photo=31086687

I'm going with I'll Have Another to win, place or show with Union Rags second and Dullahan third - all bets with imaginary money of course. ;D

A great Friday and weekend to all of you,

Arethusa

[Arethusa]

Breaking News:


I'll Have Another Scratched from Belmont Stakes - No Triple Crown Attempt This Year

There will be no Triple Crown attempt Saturday after I’ll Have Another was scratched Friday morning from the Belmont Stakes.

Trainer Doug O’Neill confirmed the news in an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show,” saying, “I'll Have Another is officially out of the Belmont.”

The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness has “a little problem with his left front leg,” O’Neill told Patrick, adding that he believed it was the “start of some tendinitis.”

The trainer added that the injury was not life-threatening. “It’s a bummer, but far from tragic,” O’Neill said. Asked if his racing career was over, O’Neill responded, “If I had to wager...yes. [The horse] will be seeing a lot of mares and smoking a lot of cigarettes.”

The three-year-old colt was unbeaten in four races this year, winning twice in California before winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

A 1 p.m. news conference is scheduled at Belmont. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978.


www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/post/ill-have-another-scratched-from-triple-crown-attempt-report-says/2012/06/08/gJQAlRHoNV_blog.html?wpisrc=al_national


Arethusa

[Arethusa]

Union Rags rallies to win 144th running of Belmont Stakes

By Richard Roth
CNN
June 10, 2012

Elmont, New York (CNN) -- Union Rags roared from behind to win the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, one day after the winner of the first two legs of horse racing's fabled Triple Crown dropped out due to an injury.

Paynter led for much of the race, but ended up in second after jockey John Velazquez led Union Rags on a late charge. Atigun came in third.

"I knew he would make it, and I knew (trainer) Michael (Matz) could do it with him," the colt's owner Phyllis Wyeth told NBC, which covered the race. "And nobody would have gotten through on the rail other than Johnny today. That was unbelievable."

Wyeth, who owns a small horse farm about 30 miles west of Philadelphia, had sold Union Rags only to later repurchase him at auction. The horse had entered the Kentucky Derby as among the favorites, but faltered and ended up in seventh.

During Saturday's race, Union Rags hung around in the middle of the pack before Velazquez squeezed him in along the rail, where he edged out Paynter by a head.

"I've got to give it to the horse," Velazquez said. "When I asked him, he did it for me."

Union Rags did not run in the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

The Belmont crowd of 85,811 wagered $13.8 million on the day's races, according to the New York Racing Association . . .

Link: edition.cnn.com/2012/06/09/sport/belmont-stakes/index.html#0_undefined,0_

Arethusa