The question is will we finally have a Triple Crown winner? It's been 34 years since Affirmed became the last Triple Crown winner in 1978. I'll Have Another is on the threshold.....
The Belmont Stakes is called the "Test of the Champion" at 1 1/2 miles. The longest of the Triple Crown races. The race is run on dirt. This will be the first time any of the 3 year olds have ever attempted the distance in it's life.
I liked All Have Another since the beginning of the year. I've won a bit of money on him, too. I think he can become the next Triple Crown winner.
I don't see anyone who can beat him. Bode' is out according to his trainer Bob Baffert- I'd love to see him race against IHA again. What heart!
Union Rags has been off since Derby. He seems to get himself into trouble. I don't think he can get the distance.
I'm sticking with I'll Have Another to sweep the Triple Crown.
Do you think IHA can do it? If not, who do you like as an upsetter?
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"And down the stretch they come!..."
I also think that iha we will the triple crown. He is a champion. he has the pedigree, the speed and stamina. He doesnt seem to want to lose. His turn off foot is tremendous. It looks like an easy exacta. IHA and Dullahan. I could be wrong because I did think that Smarty Jones was also going to be a triple crown winner. The mile and a half at Belmont can be tricky even to an experienced rider
Right now everything seems lined up perfectly for the crown to finally happen. That said, there have been horses I think were a tad better than him in the past that stumbled in the Belmont for a variety of reasons. I think he can do it, I hope he does it, he's going to be heavily favored to do it, but all of that doesn't mean anything until he goes out and crosses the finish line first. If he does do it, I'm appreciative for what Bodemeister did the first two races. Not that the triple crown should ever be downplayed, but the duels between those two should really legitimize the feat. If I'll Have Another wins the crown, it will be well deserved.
Can he? Yes. Will he? We'll have to wait and see. Unlike Big Brown and Smarty Jones who romped in the Preakness, IHA won by a small margin. Everyone said that Smarty and Big Brown ran their best races in the Preakness, but was IHA's best race the Preakness? I'm not so sure if we've seen the best he has to offer. He HAS wired a field, he HAS stalked the pace and run down front runners, so basically what's left to ask is what CAN'T this horse do? Perhaps we'll find out on Belmont day, or perhaps we'll find out just how much he can do. Pedigree says yes, ability is there. The biggest factor in this race for this horse is the jockey and the race track. Neither one have seen Belmont before, the stretch is a tricky thing to figure out. When they hit the top of the stretch they have 1/2 mile still to run, so Mario will truly have to sit frozen upon IHA until the precise moment if he wants to pull this thing off. It will be tempting to crack the whip earlier, but look what happened with Smarty Jones. If Mario can relax, if the horse sits a good trip, if the right move is made at the right time I believe IHA can do it.
Now, that being said, unless someone does what Secretariat did in his Belmont and pulls away by 25+ lengths I don't think there's any reason as to why IHA can't get it done other than being out of gas. Union Rags has never really impressed me, I agree with the statement above that he is over rated. Dullahan is a huge threat and everyone seems to be ignoring him. WATCH HIM IN THE DERBY. He was barreling down on the lead like nobodies business. As for the rest of the field, I'm not tremendously worried about but who knows. There's always the possibility of an upset winner comparable to Da'Tara going off at 30-1 or something lol.
I'll be rooting for him!!!!
ditto on remix1's comment..I remmber my hart breaking when Sunday Silence faded.. Let's hope for a happier day with I'll Have Another...
Ronda
theautumnfever put it exactly as I see it. When he won the Derby i said to my dad and brother that could be your next Triple Crown winner. He as a really good turn of footand his turn of foot is not short lived. It seems like he has several gears and looks like he has yet to find them all YET. Still early to pick but I say IHA and Dullahan exacta box
is primed for the victory. If the rider doesn't make the mistake that a lot of riders ake on the circumference of Belmont Park, where they move too soon on the far turn. The half, rather than at the 3 furlong marker. Then, the vicotry is his. I'm sure. I like Dullahan too to complte my Exacta bets. But many mistakenly think a horse that was gaining ground at 1 1/4 miles, that the extra 1/4 mile will benefit him/her. Actually, they are usually gainig, because the ones up front are tiring. It does not mean that they'll have a better chance at 1 1/2 miles.I still often make that same mistake. But, it's important to be aware of this.Not to many horses cold get the Belmont distance.
I repeat, if the rider understands this track and when to make his move, I'm confident of the victory.If he makes the mistake that many make, and start moving (getting after him)with 4 furlongs left, he'll be in serious trouble at end.
I agree with you Doug 100%. It is definitely a jocks race. Smarty Jones, Real Quiet, and a few others have lost this race because of Jockey era. You are also right about a horse closing in a race that is a mile and a quarter does mot mean he will do the same going longer. But i still thing that Dullahan has what it takes to make the Belmont distance. He doesnt seem like a one run horse but a horse that can make that run when asked. Once again the jock has to time it right. IHA in my opinion is going to win void in jock mistakes
Ill have another can do it. he is like seabiscuit he runs from the heart not the feet.
I like I'll have another for the Belmont.
He has shown great speed, a very good jock (though unknown to most before the Derby), and incredible speed. He has the pedigree to go a mile and a half, and seems to have the right spirit and loves a fight. He has a trainer that most in racing thinks is a slime ball, but that has nothing to do with the horse or the jock, and because of that I don't think that should be held against him.
Dullahan, Creative Cause, and Rousing Sermon are I'll Have Another's serious contenders I think, though I don't believe they can beat him.
I have not been a fan of Union Rags since he was 2. He was very over hyped and I've never thought he was a factor in any of The TC races. It seems the media and fans always has excuses for him and he has never shown me much. I'll likely eat that quote, but that's my opinion.
So, to me, it all comes down to how much the horse has left, and if the jockey let's the pressure get to him. I believe they can do it, but we'll soon know :)
Bill
Ceilteach Múchadh Cobhsaí
The Fighting Celt stable