Pussy Trainer Withdraws "I'll Have Another" From The Belmont Stakes, How Much Was He Paid To Do That?

NYRA ‏@NYRAnews

Dennis O'Neill, brother of Doug O'Neill, has confirmed that I'll Have Another will be scratched from the Belmont Stakes.

THIS STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN! THE HORSE HAS  THE "START OF TENDONITIS". IF EVERY ATHLETE WHO WAS A LITTLE STIFF OR SORE QUIT PLAYING WE'D HAVE NO HEROES. THIS HORSE HAD ONE MORE GREAT RACE IN HIM AND BY DENYING THE HORSE A CHANCE TO RUN AND PROVE HIMSELF, WE'LL NEVER KNOW IF HE HAD THE MAKINGS OF A SUPERSTAR CHAMPION! THIS IS WHAT HORSES DO, THEY RUN WITH ALL THEIR HEART. IN MY OPINION, EXTREMELY BAD JUDGEMENT BY THE HORSES TRAINER, DOUG O'NEILL - THE BASTARD! WE'LL NEVER KNOW IF, I'LL HAVE ANOTHER, COULD HAVE BEEN CHAMPION. THE FIX IS IN!

 2012 Belmont Stakes Cheat Sheet

Breaking: I’ll Have Another has been withdrawn from the race and retired. The odds are up to date and we’ve made some updates that noted below.
Did you watch the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness? Of course you did! And now you’re looking forward to seeing history can be made, or if you can make a few bucks… or both!
Only four three of the twelve 11 starters in this year’s Belmont Stakes started in either the Kentucky Derby or Preakness, and only two one of those started in both! To help you get acquainted with the field, we’ve created a quick overview of all of the 2012 Belmont Stakes contenders by post position, including their morning line odds.
Be sure to check our 2012 Kentucky Derby Cheat Sheet and 2012 Preakness Cheat Sheet for more back story.
1. Street Life (8-1) – Broke his maiden the same weekend as Bodemeister with as much fanfare but hasn’t quite stepped up to his promising start. After a flat first attempt in graded company in the Wood Memorial he did improve with a third-place finish in the Peter Pan, certainly an interesting consideration for your trifectas and superfectas.
2. Unstoppable U (20-1) – Tough first stakes attempt for this lightly raced colt who’s undefeated in two starts. He owns a win over the track and is likely to be part of the pace scenario. If he doesn’t get caught up in a duel with Paynter he might even be able stick around for a piece of the action.
3. Union Rags (3-1) – The Fountain of Youth winner has certainly had no problem getting into traffic trouble and the Derby was no different, although he did manage to improve his position after a bad start. He had great 2-year-old form, particularly at Belmont Park, but has only hinted at his potential as a 3-year-old. His new jock was duly impressed with his recent work but the Test of the Champions might not be his best winning distance. UPDATE: His chances look a lot better with the defection of I’ll Have Another if you think he doesn’t fold at the end or get himself in traffic trouble.
4. Atigun (15-1) – Comes in off of an allowance win in the slop after finishing well back in both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. Has yet to hit the board in three attempts in graded company but he’s garnered some wiseguy steam as a potential trifecta/superfecta-filler. UPDATE: With the scratch of I’ll Have Another he might even be a plausible consideration for an upset given his running style, but don’t expect to get the morning line odds.
5. Dullahan (9-5) – Third place finisher in Derby skipped the Preakness to freshen up for the Belmont. He shipped in to early to get the lay of the land and the focus of his preparation has been endurance. Add a smokin’ workout and a local hot jock and he’s the biggest threat to the 12th Triple Crown you have a new morning line favorite/horse to beat.
6. Ravelo’s Boy (30-1) – Has not fared well in graded company but might be at least a little bit better than he looks on paper if you consider how wide he was in his last two trips. According to Trakus he went 51 feet further than the winner, Prospective, in the Tampa Bay Derby with an adjusted losing margin of just under one length (versus the actual six lengths). Prospective finished 18th in the Derby after a very rocky beginning so it’s hard to judge the Tampa Bay effort. He’s put in two solid endurance last works at Calder and will be a nice price if you think he can get a piece of the action.
7. Five Sixteen (30-1) – It took the son of 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor five times to break his maiden, but the distance should be right up his alley. He has the potential to be a nice trifecta or superfecta-filler.
8. Guyana Star Dweej (30-1) – Broke his maiden on his seventh try and ran six lengths behind Unstoppable U last out in an allowance race. At least his name is fun to say!
9. Paynter (7-2) – At one point this Bob Baffert trainee was considered the top 3-year-old in the barn, but it’s hard to imagine that he’s better than Bodemeister. He was beaten by a neck in Derby Trail but came back to romp in an allowance. The likely pacesetter has put in two nice endurance works and would not be a surprise to hold on for a piece of the action but don’t expect to get the new morning line price if you like him.
10. Optimizer (15-1) – This maiden winner has danced all the dances, including the Kentucky Derby (11th) and the Preakness (6th). While he hasn’t set the world on fire (at least on dirt!), he has performed consistently. He might improve with the added distance but let’s hope his connections put him back on turf after this race.
11. I’ll Have Another (4-5) – The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner seems to have finally won over most of his detractors with his gutsy Preakness win. He’s been training at Belmont since the day after the Preakness and definitely has a legitimate shot to make history. SCRATCHED!
12. My Adonis (15-1) – Last minute addition to the field is from last year’s winning connections, although last year’s winner was on the improve whereas My Adonis seems to have peaked early. The chart from his last race reads “weakened” and that race was almost a half mile shorter. His worktab does not suggest that he’s been training for the additional distance.