Stakes barn open for I’ll Have Another on 5 June at the Big Sandy
Due to enhanced focus on security, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board last week announced that the all the Belmont Stakes contenders will be required to move to one bar after their workouts because of easy monitoring in an isolated place.
The same rule applies on the Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby and the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness Stakes winner, I’ll Have Another, who will be vying to down the elusive Triple Crown to become the 12th horse since Affirmed back in the 70’s to win it.
Although, I’ll Have Another’s trainer, Doug O’Neill, has a different take on New York State Racing and Wagering Board ruling – which will come into effect on 6 June, 2012, saying that he likes all of his horses in one place for various reasons.
O’Neill’s emphasis over the transparency of the game was the crux of his argument, as said that there are many people who don’t know much about horses, but are allowed to talk and criticise trainers, people who take care of the horses.
If there are all in one place, a common man will be well informed with firsthand experience that how these great animals are taken care of.
His concern was a legitimate one, when he said that usually horses go get distracted after getting shifted to a different stall, and hopes that the change doesn’t affect I’ll Have Another negatively or any other horse participating in the Belmont Stakes.
“The obvious negative thing is a lot of horses do get distracted when they change stalls. It sounds silly, but it happens. Hopefully I’ll Have Another won’t get distracted, that none of the other horses get distracted, they all settle in good, they all present themselves well, and it’s a nice, clean-run race, and at the end of the day people can say, ‘Wow, they were all looked after and they all ran great.’”
Jockey Mario Gutierrez joined team I’ll Have Another on 4 June, as the Flower Alley colt is busy turning in his customary 1 mile gallop over the Belmont Stakes oval.
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