Kentucky Derby Winner: I'll Have Another Will Come Up Empty in Triple Crown Bid

I'll Have Another ran a flawless race at the 2012 Kentucky Derby, but he's got virtually no shot of winning the famed Triple Crown.

With jockey Mario Gutierrez on his back, I'll Have Another was very impressive at Churchill Downs, running down favorite Bodemeister in a thrilling late surge. But unfortunately for Gutierrez and his horse, they won't have similar luck in the upcoming Preakness Stakes.

The Preakness is much shorter than the Derby, and I'm expecting Bodemeister to blow away the competition. The horse showed his incredible speed early in the Derby, and if he hadn't gotten winded down the stretch, he would have cruised to an easy victory.

For a mile and an eighth, Bodemeister was dominant. In a performance reminiscent of his Arkansas Derby victory, in which he led every length, Bodemeister exploded out of the gate. He blazed through the first quarter mile in a blistering 22.32 seconds.

With his sprinting style, Bodemeister is built perfectly for the Preakness, and I'd be shocked if I'll Have Another upset him again.

History is also against the Derby winner. We haven't seen a horse win the Triple Crown since 1978, and for a simple reason: It's really damn hard.

With three races in five weeks, the Triple Crown is one of the most grueling contests in all of sports. The endurance, talent and luck necessary to win all three races is a combination that the vast majority of horses simply don't have.

I'll Have Another ran a great race on Saturday, and everyone involved should be proud of the win. They just shouldn't expect his great success to continue.