I’ll Have Another Gallops at Belmont Park
By Michael on May 25, 2012 with Comments 0
I’ll Have Another galloped one mile under exercise rider Humberto Gomez Friday morning at Belmont Park.
The Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner will attempt to add the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown to his growing list of accomplishments on June 9.
It was the first gallop over Belmont’s 1 ½-mile track for I’ll Have Another, who jogged the previous two days after arriving in New York Sunday. The Flower Alley colt, who is bidding to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years, was accompanied by his stable pony, Lava Man, as he made his way to the track shortly after the renovation break. As a steady rain began to fall, Gomez kept I’ll Have Another well off the rail toward the center of the track and the colt had his ears pricked forward as he rolled through the stretch before being pulled up on the clubhouse turn.
“He was a little hard to pull up,” said Gomez. “He felt really good. We’re happy because he came out of the last race very good. He handled the track very, very well.”
Added trainer Doug O’Neill’s assistant, Jack Sisterson: “He looked super. One thing we were looking to see how he got over the track, stride-wise, and he looked fantastic. The rider said he felt good, and he’s happy, so we’re happy.”
–NYRA Press contributed to this report.
I’ll Have Another and Lava Man/NYRA Photo by Susie Raisher
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