Kentucky Derby Winner 2012: Breaking Down I'll Have Another Triple Crown Chances

It's been 34 long years since horse racing had its last Triple Crown winner, and that streak is about to hit 35. 

I'll Have Another won a thrilling 2012 Kentucky Derby with a late charge on Saturday, but this horse does not have the skill set it takes to win the Triple Crown. 

In winning the Derby, I'll Have Another, ridden by Mario Gutierrez, certainly proved his greatness in this race, but he also showed us where is going to come up short in his Triple Crown bid, and that is going to start with the next race. 

Preakness Stakes

At 9.5 furlongs, the Preakness is considerably shorter than the mile-and-a-quarter Kentucky Derby. 

I'll Have Another is not well suited for a race of this length. In Saturday's Kentucky Derby, Gutierrez held his horse back around the fifth position for the majority of this race. 

It wasn't until the homestretch where the horse began to make his charge past the fading leaders. 

Those fading horses will not have the same problems with stamina in the Preakness, and I'll Have Another doesn't have the pure speed to keep up with them. 

For starters, Bodemeister looks like the clear favorite for the Preakness. He ended up finishing second at the Derby, and that was after he recorded among the fastest first five splits in the history of the race. That speed is going to serve him well at the Preakness. 

Belmont Stakes 

The Belmont is well-suited to I'll Have Another's racing style. At one-and-a-half miles, this is the longest of the three races. 

And this horse proved it is built for a race like this. He was on a full-on sprint down the homestretch, and showed no signs of slowing down as he crossed the finish line. 

I'll Have Another has a great shot at capturing this race. It is too bad he will be doomed at the Preakness.