Dullahan and Union Rags will make it tough for I’ll Have Another in the Belmont Stakes
The main protagonists of the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby, after their less than convincing run in the Run for the Roses, were ruled out by their connections for a Preakness Stakes try.
Now, for the Belmont Stakes, a strong contingent will head to New York to spoil the part for, I’ll Have Another, by stopping him from winning the Triple Crown and become the 12th horse to do it, and the first since Affirmed in 1978.
Phyllis M. Wyeth and Chadds Ford Stable owned 3-year-old colt, Union Rags will return for the third and final leg of the Triple Crown at the back of a disappointing seventh place finish in the Kentucky Derby back on 5 May at Churchill Downs.
The Michael Matz trained colt won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on his Kentucky Derby trail and third in the Grade 1 Florida Derby also at Gulfstream Park to winner, Take Charge Indy.
Following a pair of tough trips, Union Rags will look to regain his winning thread, and his perfect record at Belmont Park will help the colt doing so, as the son of Dixie Union took the Grade 2 Chimneys Saratoga Special by 7 ¼ lengths last year.
Finishing a strong third in the Kentucky Derby, Donegal Racing’s Dullahan is also among the main protagonists of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on 9 June, 2012.
On his Derby trail, Dale Romans trained 3-year-old Even the Score colt was second in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes to winner, Howe Great, and nabbed the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, defeating Hansen in second.
Exiting a 1 ¼ length victory in the 12 May, 2012, Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park, Mark Valeski will attempt to become the first colt since A. P. Indy in 1992 to sweep the Peter Pan Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
Bob Baffert has ruled out the second place finisher in the Derby and the Preakness Stakes, Bodemeister, out of the Belmont Stakes, but instead he will saddle the Zayat Stables’ Paynter to run in the Belmont Stakes.
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