Dullahan installed as the new favourite for the Belmont Stakes
Anyone, who was rooting I’ll Have Another to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, will have their heartbroken to find out that the Flower Alley colt incurred a tendon injury, and will not only be skipping the Belmont Stakes, but getting retired from the sport once and for all.
In the wake of this devastating news, the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on 9 June, 2012, must go on, and after the favourtie at the morning line not competing in the race, someone has to be the favourite going in the “Test of the Champion.”
Donegal Racing’s Dullahan has been declared as the new 9 to 5 morning line favourite. Dullahan was the 5 to 1 second choice at the morning line when I’ll Have Another was the favourite.
Dale L. Romans trained 3-year-old colt has been impressive through and through in his sophomore season.
Bred in Kentucky by Bena Halecky, Judy and Philip Needham, Dullahan started his 2012 campaign with a second place finish to, Howe Great, in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park over the venue’s turf course at about 1 1/8 miles.
The son of Even the Score was up against, Hansen in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, where he closed the front-wheeler down, and posted a victory over the favourite to win the 1 1/8 mile poly track event at Keeneland.
After a troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby, Dullahan still managed a third place finish, only a few lengths off the winner, I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister at Churchill Downs.
“It’s devastating," Romans said in reaction to I'll Have Another's injury. "I really wanted him to compete. This was going to be a special race, one of the biggest races of our time. It’s just devastating.”
“We’re going to inherit the role as favourite, but I’d rather have him in there," Romans added. "I think we could have competed with him and it would have been a great race and great for the sport. It would have been something special to beat him.”
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