Triple Crown 2012 Schedule: Kentucky Derby Winner, I'll Have Another, Heads To Preakness

Horses leave the starting gate in the 138th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2012.

Moments after I'll Have Another registered a rousing, come-from-behind victory in the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby, the horse's trainer Doug O'Neill was already talking about the Triple Crown.

Accompanied by his young son on the track, O'Neill bellowed, "Maryland, here we come baby!"

With the first leg of horse racing's fabled Triple Crown checked off, I'll Have Another will head to Pimlico in Maryland for the Preakness Stakes (and then hopefully out to Long Island for the Belmont) with hopes of becoming the first three-year-old to sweep all three crown jewel events in a single season since Affirmed accomplished the trick in 1978.

2012 Triple Crown Schedule

The Preakness Stakes: May 19

The Belmont Stakes: June 9

The last horse to come close was Big Brown in 2008, who had a dismal showing at the Belmont after capturing the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Can I'll Have Another succeed where so many others have failed?

If so, I'll Have Another will join an elite group of horses, including Secretariat and Whirlaway.

Loading Slideshow

• Affirmed - 1978

  Steve Cauthen raises his whip to speed Affirmed, right, toward the finish lines. Alydar is driven home by Jorge Velasquez in the final stretch of the Belmont Stakes race at Belmont Race track in Elmont, New York on Saturday, June 12, 1978. Affirmed won, becoming a triple crown victor. (AP Photo/Perez)

• Seattle Slew - 1977

  Jockey Jean Cruget stands up in his saddle and celebrates after guiding Seattle Slew to victory in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. on June 11, 1977. The win gives Slew horse racing's Triple Crown. (AP Photo)

• Secretariat - 1973

  Secretariat and jockey Ron Turcotte pose in the winner's circle after winning the 1973 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 5, 1973. Secretariat won the 99th Run for the Roses in a record 1:59 2/5, becoming the first horse to complete the 1 1/4-mile course for the Kentucky Derby in less than two minutes. Holding on at left is groom Ed Sweet. (AP Photo)

• Citation - 1948

  Citation is shown in the winner's circle after taking a bow at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Ca., on July 21, 1951. Citation, the first race horse to win $1 million, was retired to stud on July 20. Standing with "Big Cy," from left, are, owner Lucille Parker Wright, trainer Jimmy Jones, holding bridle, and exercise boy Freeman McMillen. (AP Photo)

• Assault - 1946

  Assault, far left, thunders down to the finish line to win the 72nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 4, 1946. Spy Song, with the white-marked forehead, finished second and Hampden, left from Spy Song, was third. Assault went on to win the Triple Crown. (AP Photo)

• Count Fleet - 1943

  Jockey Johnny Longden is seated on Count Fleet in New York on May 22, 1943. Longden rode Count Fleet to thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, with victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. (AP Photo)

• Whirlaway - 1941

  Whirlaway is draped with the floral tribute in the winner's circle at Belmont Park, N.Y., on June 7, 1941 after winning the Belmont Stakes race of the Triple Crown with jockey Eddie Arcaro. Trainer Ben Jones holds the bridle. (AP Photo)

• War Admiral - 1937

  War Admiral, with Charles Kurtsinger up, approaches the finish line to win the $50,000 Widener Cup at Hialeah racetrack at Hialeah, Fla., on March 5, 1938. (AP Photo)

• Omaha - 1935

  Omaha, winner of racing's Triple Crown in 1935, stands with Morton Porter in the Nebraska City pasture where he is spending his last days on May 1, 1957. The farm is owned by Grove Porter, Nebraska Racing Commissioner and father of Morton. (AP Photo)

• Gallant Fox - 1930

  Famous jockey "The Earl of Sande" up on his third Kentucky Derby winner Gallant Fox after the finish of the classic at Churchill Downs, Kentucky on May 19, 1930. (AP Photo)

• Sir Barton - 1919

  This is a photo of thoroughbred Sir Barton, winner of the 44th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churhill Downs on the first Saturday in May 1919. Sir Barton, foaled at Hamburg Place, Lexington, Ky., was the first Triple Crown winner in 1916. (AP Photo)

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Comments

[dranyamelknur]

09:09 PM on 05/09/2012

I'll Have Another is a very determined horse as he had already shown with his previous two wins this year. Mario made a great first impression also but will be challenged more now that the others know what they're up against. The biggest barrier in this horse's way could be a wet or sloppy track. The only time he's run on one he failed miserably.

[rikadarling]

09:32 AM on 05/09/2012

I do think I'll Have Another has a very good shot at winning the Preakness but I don't think the Belmont is his cup of tea. That track requires some getting used to. Horses forget to switch leads going around the turns because they are so gradual... it's almost as if it is one continuous straightaway to them.

[onlyaquarterdelusional]

03:21 PM on 05/08/2012

Triple Crown? Not this year. Not gonna happen.

[Rosalee Harris]

11:40 AM on 05/07/2012

I dont want to jinx it but it wouldnt surprise me one bit if this horse has a triple crown in its future. This is a very special horse the way this horse just effortlessly pass Bodiemiester it was like the Usain Bolt of throroughbred racing.

[russ1169]

10:39 AM on 05/08/2012

It was also one of the slowest Derby's in years....over a fast track.

[StephenJK]

10:02 AM on 05/07/2012

Half a furlong shorter and Bodemeister wins that KD. Well, the Preakness happens to be a half furlong shorter of a race. Bodemeister is one heckuva front running machine. He clearly didn't have enough in the Derby to wire the race. But, for him to hold up like he did, that's saying something. Not taking anything away from IHA, but, Bodemeister is going to be very tough to beat at that distance. I still really like Union Rags. He got the absolute gutter trip throughout the race. He was pinched. He was bottled up behind horses in 18th place for 3/4 of the race. Yet, when he got clear, he was balls to the wall. My cousin, a handicapper, doesn't like Union Rags at all because he says he's prone to "bad trips". Well, in a 20 horse race with 8 speed horses, someone's getting shuffled back. Don't be surprised if you see UR hit the board in the Preakness, if not win it. But, Bodemeister has to be the favorite.

[NotaLiborCon]

08:17 AM on 05/07/2012

IHA is bred to run all day so The Belmont sets up nice for him. The Preakness though is a different story a number of horses can win that race should they show up to run. If IHA wins the Preakness he wins the TC.

[hlnwls4]

01:24 AM on 05/07/2012

Very disturbing that the trainer says GO before even checking on the condition of the horse...SHAME ON HIM = not surprised but I really expected more - he has a FABULOUS horse - hey DOUG = IT IS ABOUT THE HORSE and NOT ABOUT YOU

[SOOTHSAYER SHAMAN]

11:38 PM on 05/06/2012

He'll probably win the other two. This bargain basement horse will be the next Secretariat.
Many bookies and "horse" people will have their fingers in on this one, you can bet on it.

[ptrgamb]

08:55 PM on 05/06/2012

No Triple Crown. There are too many anomalies about a race with 20 horses, including a favorite who never had clear running.
One of the entrants had never raced more than seven furlongs before. How did he earn a shot in the Derby?

[SOOTHSAYER SHAMAN]

11:40 PM on 05/06/2012

I disagree. He will make it all the waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

[hlnwls4]

01:26 AM on 05/07/2012

I will lay you odds right now...not a chance!

[NotaLiborCon]

08:14 AM on 05/07/2012

Preakness max is only 14 and The Belmont usually has even fewer.

[BlueZoo]

08:32 PM on 05/06/2012

No chance of a Triple Crown this year! There hasn't been a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 and not one of the Derby horses is an Affirmed. Bodemeister is a great pick for the Preakness, as long as Baffert changes his strategy and lets the horse have its head in the last turn instead of running full out from the gate.

[russ1169]

10:41 AM on 05/08/2012

Agree....Bodemeister's early fractions were the fastest in Derby history. As a result he didn't have the gas to hold off IHA. I don't think Bodemeister's jockey ran his best race on Sat.

[BlueZoo]

12:03 PM on 05/08/2012

In this particular case, don't blame the jockey. Bob Baffert is notorious for telling his jockeys exactly how he wants the race run. They have to follow orders. Baffert is a real egomaniac and dictatorial but even he should have seen the results of his plan bore out that this is a great horse but it will tire if allowed to run full out from the gate. With the Preakness being the shortest of the Triple Crown races, Bodemeister should run really well.

[jetboy24]

07:44 PM on 05/06/2012

Weekend In Kentucky
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[JHBH]

01:43 PM on 05/07/2012

Very nice.

[JHBH]

06:45 PM on 05/06/2012

Why not I'll Have Another at Pimlico?
He was much the best in the Derby. He did everything he had to -- out of the gate like a rocket, settled nicely off the pace, moved when asked, found the right path, and mowed down Bodemeister in the stretch. No other horse in the Derby field showed that kind of ability.
Bodemeister ran the race of his life and couldn't handle I'll Have Another.
Union Rags did have a bad trip, but he was a false favorite I think. No Grade 1 wins in 2012, loss to Take Charge Indy in Florida Derby.
Dullahan and Went the Day Well looked good at the end but don't see them improving enough to win the Preakness over I'll Have Another.
Just give Gutierrez a few trips over that quirky track and bring on the Black Eyed Susans.

[Beernuts]

12:01 AM on 05/07/2012

Different track, different day, different surface, different weather, tighter turns and the other jocks will make sure the "unknown" jock gets some "race ridin" thrown his way. Not a chance this horse will win another Triple Crown race but his place in history is assured. Kudos to Vlademir Cerin in California for recoignizing the talent of Mario Guiterrez and riding him when no one else had a clue. Those of us lucky enough to have MG ride our horses in Vancouver knew he had immense talent and wasn't long for the big time. If you can be leading rider on a "bullring" anywhere, you have talent and are fearless to boot.

[JHBH]

06:23 PM on 05/07/2012

Sounds like the "race ridin" jocks won't be likely to rattle MG. The ride he gave I'll Have Another in the Derby was beautiful. Saw him at Santa Anita Derby and he did a great job there to nose out Creative Cause. He's a special jockey, that's for sure. Can't wait for the Preakness this year.