Alpha ruled out of Belmont Stakes

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From thoroughbredtimes.com: Godolphin Racing's Alpha has been ruled out of next week's Belmont Stakes (G1) after developing a temperature earlier this week and missing several days of training.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin told Daily Racing Form that Alpha had an elevated temperature of 103 degrees on Tuesday night. Although his temperature dropped to 100.40, in the normal range, after he received antibiotics, the Bernardini colt has not been to the track since breezing five furlongs in 1:01.93 on Sunday morning.

"It's just not the thing to do," McLaughlin said. "It's a demanding race, the mile and a half. We need to be 110%, and we're not."

Alpha, who won the Count Fleet Stakes and Withers Stakes (G3) over the winter at Aqueduct, finished second in the Champagne Stakes (G1) last fall at Belmont. The colt was most recently 12th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 5.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2012/05/31/alpha-ruled-out-of-belmont-stakes.aspx

Alpha was one of 3 horses that I feel could upset IHA's TC bid. Union Rags and Dullahan are the other two. -tgs

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1. Triple Crown winners discuss I'll Have Another....

From thoroughbredtimes.com: As dual classic winner I'll Have Another sits on the cusp of becoming the 12th winner of racing's Triple Crown, the connections of the last three Triple Crown winners discussed the latest horse to attempt to join their exclusive club.

Penny Chenery has been on both sides of the Triple Crown equation, as the owner of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, as well as a near-miss with dual classic winner Riva Ridge, who won the 1972 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1).

While Chenery expressed confidence in I'll Have Another heading into the Belmont on June 9, she said the feat has generally become more difficult to achieve over the past three decades due to a change in breeding philosophy.

"Back in the '70s, we were still breeding horses to race them, and so much of the industry now is concentrated on sales, so you breed a precocious, good looking, early speed horse who isn't equipped to go a mile-and-a-half, or run three hard races in five weeks," she said. "We just have a different set of goals with the horses that we breed now and it will take a remarkable individual to complete this. I happen to think that I'll Have Another can do it."

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2012/05/30/triple-crown-winners-discuss-ill-have-another.aspx

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2. I'll Have Another Nearly Hit by Loose Horse....

From blooodhorse.com: Trainer Doug O’Neill said a loose horse nearly slammed into Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another during training May 31 at Belmont Park.

He said his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner was walking a few feet from the outside rail when another horse threw his rider and came “screaming up the outside rail” the same way I’ll Have Another was walking.

O’Neill said the horse went between the rail and I’ll Have Another, and that exercise rider Jonny Garcia told him the horse grazed his boot. The trainer said he feared a collision was imminent.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/70193/ill-have-another-nearly-hit-by-loose--horse#ixzz1wTbJpex1