I'll Have Another is the overwhelming favorite to win the Belmont Stakes on June 9th and become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978, a span of 34 years. But those hopes almost came to a screeching halt during a training run at Belmont this afternoon.
After another horse threw his rider off, he ran straight in the direction of I'll Have Another, almost causing a serious collision. CBS New York has more on the story:
O'Neil says his Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was walking a few feet from the outside rail when another horse threw his rider and came "screaming up the outside rail" in the same direction I'll Have Another was walking.
The trainer says the horse went between the rail and I'll Have Another, and that exercise rider Jonny Garcia told him the horse grazed his boot. The trainer feared a disastrous collision was imminent.
Fortunately, the catastrophic accident was avoided and I'll Have Another is fine. The horse is currently the overwhelming favorite to win the race at 13/10 odds.
For lots more on the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, please visit And Down the Stretch they Come.