I’ll Have Another Scratched from Belmont Stakes; Retired from Racing

“I’ll Have Another is  out of the Belmont,” trainer Doug O’Neill said Friday morning on the Dan Patrick Show. At a 1 p.m. press conference at Belmont Park, the horse’s owner, J. Paul Reddam, announced the colt’s retirement.

A choked up Reddam, said: “I am here to officially tell you I’ll Have Another is retired. “History has to wait for another day.”

“It’s not tragic, but it’s a huge disappointment,” O’Neill said. “The horse looks fine, but he has the beginning of a tendon injury and will be unable to run. This is extremely tough for all of us. I feel so sorry for the whole team. We had such an amazing run. I have to thank everyone on the team. It’s been an incredible ride. He’s been quiet the last few days. There was some loss of definition and swelling in his left front leg a few days ago. He looked great on the track today. Swelling came back again after today’s gallop.”

I’ll Have Another retires with five wins in seven career starts. He earned $2,693,600. He was attempting to become the first horse since Florida-bred Affirmed in 1978 to sweep the Triple Crown.

I’ll Have Another/Palmer photo