I’ll Have Another Will Win The Triple Crown

With the Triple Crown at Belmont on June 9th, 2012, new rules are presently put into place.  Many of them have been commented on in the New York Times.

According to reports there will be strict monitoring of all the horses that will run in this race.  Those attending the horses will have to log all medications that they give them and in cases seek permission from a special board when such medication is necessary.

These procedures were considered necessary to assure the integrity of the race.

To whom do these rules apply?

These rules cover the horses and personnel that care for them.  They include: the trainers, handlers and veterinarians.  Like that I’ll Have Another that has won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness will be subjected to tests like his competitors.

I’ll Have Another major challengers – Dullahan and Union Rags will be subject to this scrutiny too.  Of the possible starters, I’ll Have Another with trainer D. O’Neil that will be ridden by M. Gutierrez is projected by watchmaker odds as a 4-5 favorite.  Dullahan with trainer D. Romans and jockey J. Castellano 5-1, and Union Rags with trainer M. Matz and jockey J. Velazquez 6-1.

Paynter is 12-1 and Alpha 15-1.  It appears that at least 12 horses will be in the race that is over one and one half mile track.

There is a cloud hanging over D. O’Neil who is a suspect in previous doping.  Even a horse’s food and hay will be monitored.  As the final days of the race approaches, these horses will be subject to around the clock security and everyone going and coming from their barns will be scrutinized.

What is I’ll Have Another chances?

From all appearances it looks as though I’ll Have Another will be the next Triple Crown winner which is considered the Holy Grail of Horse Racing.  Since he arrived ahead of the race at Belmont he has been having excellent work outs.  His trainer has been impressed with the way he is handling the track. In the Kentucky Derby, his odds were 15-1.  The favorite was the sprinter Bodemeister that he beat by a length and a half and afterwards in the Preakness that followed on May 19th, 2012, he defeated him again by a neck.  Bodemeister his main challenger has been pulled from Belmont.  

Winning The Triple Crown was last accomplished in 1977.  That was 34 years ago when Affirmed became horse racing 11th winner to achieve this prestigious prize.

Some horses that may cause an upset 

Dullahan ran 3rd in the Kentucky Derby.  We should look for him to place or show.  Union Rags that got out the gate late was 7th in the same race.  We should expect him to do more.  Other horses to watch are Paynter that was 1st in Pimlico allowance and Alpha that was 12th in the Kentucky Derby.