There has not been an American Triple Crown winner for 33 years, and now, more than ever, the sport badly needs that to happen at Belmont.
“I’ll Have Another” will be the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years; that is if he can win The Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9. The three-year-old is trained by Doug O’Neil, ridden by Canada’s Hastings Racecourse Jockey, Mario Gutierrez, and is owned by Reddam Racing LLC (Paul Reddam) who was born in Windsor, Ontario. It is easy to find many Canadian connections to this horse.
Affirmed. Seattle Slew. Secretariat. Three of horse racing’s most distinguished triple crown winners since Citation achieved that in 1948. I’ll Have Another is set to do the same, joining the true greats in the sport. The feat was last realized by Affirmed in 1978, just a year removed from Seattle Slew, who did the same a year before. Secretariat, horse racing’s Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Joe Montana and Babe Ruth rolled into one, famously completed the Kentucky Derby-Preakness-Belmont triple in 1973.
There have been a few horses that have come close, mind you, winning the first two legs, but failing at the difficult third race, the 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park. Belmont is the heart-breaker. Eleven horse since 1978 have won the first two legs:
Spectacular Bid in 1979
Pleasant Colony in 1981
Alydar foal Alysheba in 1987
Sunday Silence in 1989
Silver Charm in 1997
Real Quiet in 1998
Charismatic in 1999
War Emblem in 2002
Funny Cide in 2003
Smarty Jones in 2004
Big Brown in 2008
These horse are champions, outstanding race horses, alas none could pull off that last victory. Every one of these horses went-off as favorite in the Belmont, a heavy favorite in fact, which allowed for a great pay-off at the windows. When I am watching the race, I know my heart will beat out of my chest as I cheer for I’ll Have Another to win. This does not mean I will bet him. In fact I will likely bet against him because history is against him.
Three races in 35 days for an elite thoroughbred is not the norm. Most champion horses of this caliber rarely race twice in 35 days. Every race takes so much out of a horse; they have to exert so much they become very tried the following days. It takes a special animal to recover quickly enough to overcome the grueling task of winning all three races of the Triple Crown. In fact, the grueling schedule has already claimed a victim – Bodemeister. I’ll Have Another’s biggest rival will not be running the Belmont, giving an added opportunity for the triple.
There is that chance that I’ll Have Another will hurdle through the ranks of many past champion horses. If he wins it could quite possibly be the only Triple Crown winner of my lifetime. This dream could come true. One race to win over the hearts of millions, to be placed in a category of very few, and to go down in history. This Canadian connection (Gutierrez and Reddam) that Doug O’Neil has formed along with the superb thoroughbred I’ll Have Another have a chance to put their names in history.
Belmont Park, Saturday June 9th, good luck I’ll Have Another, it’s your chance to solidify your place in the hearts of all racing fans across the world.
…and that is the last word.
