Preakness 2012 Results: Belmont Predictions Based on 2nd Leg of Triple Crown

I'll Have Another is going to be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. He proved that with his epic victory at the Preakness. 

His name has now turned into a mantra. After winning the Kentucky Derby, he took another win at the Preakness, and will be looking for one more "another" at the Belmont. This would make him the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. 

He has an excellent shot to do just that, and will be heavily favored to do so. This not just because I'll Have Another has won the first two Triple Crown legs, but how he has won them. 

After the Derby, it appeared that if I'll Have Another was going to struggle in a race, it was going to be the Preakness. 

The race at Pimlico is the shortest of the three Triple Crown races, and I'll Have Another's strength is in his finishing kick. 

He pulled in Bodemeister on the homestretch at the Derby, and it seemed to be too much to ask to have him do the same in the shorter Preakness. 

However, he did just that, and looked even better doing so.

In this race, Bodemeister again opened up a big lead, but the pace was slower than at the Derby. It seemed like he would have enough left in the tank to hold onto the lead, And, in fact, he did not slow down the stretch—I'll Have Another just passed him. 

In doing so, he proved his strength is not as much about stamina as it is about having a huge finishing kick and knowing when to use it.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez obviously has a great feel for this horse. They have proven to be an unbeatable team, and his strengths are only going to be amplified at the Belmont. This is the longest of the Triple Crown races, custom-made for I'll Have Another's epic finishes.

That is not all this horse has going for it either. He has been a lightly-raced colt, which is vitally important as he will try to pull off his third epic win in five weeks.

All of this leads me to the conclusion that I'll Have Another will pull off the historic win at the Belmont. 

2012 Preakness Unofficial Results

Finish	Horse	Jockey	Post
1	I'll Have Another	M. Gutierrez	9
2	Bodemeister	M. Smith	7
3	Creative Cause	J. Rosario	6
4	Zetterholm	J. Alvarado	4
5	Teeth of the Dog	J. Bravo	2
6	Optimizer	C. Nakatani	10
7	Cozzetti	J. Lezcano	11
8	Tiger Walk	R. Dominguez	1
9	Daddy Nose Best	J. Leparoux	8
10	Went the Day Well	J. Velazquez	5
11	Pretension	J. Santiago	3