{"id":1256,"date":"2012-05-28T10:32:53","date_gmt":"2012-05-28T15:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/equestrianinfluence.com\/horsehappenings\/?p=1256"},"modified":"2020-01-14T12:26:12","modified_gmt":"2020-01-14T17:26:12","slug":"triple-crown-hopeful-ill-have-another-settling-into-daily-routine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianinfluence.com\/horsehappenings\/triple-crown-hopeful-ill-have-another-settling-into-daily-routine\/","title":{"rendered":"Triple Crown hopeful I\u2019ll Have Another settling into daily routine"},"content":{"rendered":"

BELMONT, N.Y. \u2013 Triple Crown hopeful I\u2019ll Have Another put in a fourth solid gallop over Belmont Park\u2019s main track Monday morning as Team O\u2019Neill began planning some extracurricular activities during the lead up to the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 9.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As I\u2019ll Have Another is scheduled to do each day before the 1 \u00bd-mile \u201cTest of the Champion,\u201d the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner went to the track shortly after the renovation break, jogged a half-mile and galloped a mile.<\/span>\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf any of you guys got a chance to see him, I think he\u2019s maintained his energy level and his stride, and he looks fantastic,\u201d said trainer Doug O\u2019Neill at his daily press briefing. \u201cToday the track was, according to the crew, at its deepest and most tiring, so it was good to get him over that, and he recovered very quickly and drank a very little bit of water. So he\u2019s fit, and we have to stay lucky and stay injury-free and we\u2019ll be in great sha<\/span>pe.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Neill, who said he was hoping to attend a taping of \u201cLate Night with Jimmy Fallon\u201d i<\/span>n Manhattan, revealed that he, jockey Mario Gutierrez, and owner J. Paul Reddam, had been invited by Jessica Steinbrenner to throw out the first pitch when the New York Mets play the New York Yankees on the eve of the June 9 Belmont Stakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf all goes well they asked us the day before the Belmont to have Mario, Paul and I, to symbolize the Triple Crown, to have all three of us throw it out,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat a huge honor it is. That should be a blast.\u201d\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kentucky Derby third-place finisher\u00a0Dullahan<\/strong>\u00a0arrived at Belmont Park at approximately 6:30 Monday morning to finish preparations for his attempt to spoil I\u2019ll Have Another\u2019s Triple Crown bid in the June 9 Belmont Stakes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll jog in the morning, gallop a few days, and breeze on Saturday,\u201d said trainer Dale Romans of the Donegal Racing color-bearer. \u201cHe came out of the Derby in great shape. He\u2019s happy, fresh, [and the race] didn\u2019t seem to knock him out any. He has the extra time between races, and he\u2019s doing great.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Romans will remain in New York through the Belmont Stakes, the trainer said. Later today, Romans will saddle 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, which also attracted To Honor and Serve, Caleb\u2019s Posse, Saginaw , Caixa Eletronica, and Jackson Bend.<\/span><\/p>\n