Preakness 2012 Winner: Poor Pedigree Won't Keep I'll Have Another from History

I'll Have Another is on the verge of ending the 34-year drought of Triple Crown winners. A feat that's even more remarkable considering the little buzz he was generating entering the Triple Crown season and comes from pedigree that is nowhere near elite. 

Neither of I'll Have Another's parents produced anything spectacular on the track. They also don't have an amazing breeding track record. 

His stallion, Flower Alley, has produced six stakes winners since going to stud in 2007, and I'll Have Another is, by far and away, the most accomplished.

I'll Have Another's dam is Arch's Gal Edith. She only ran in one race, which was a win, but it was a short run.

She has had some success with her foals, but outside of I'll Have Another, nothing that would indicate greatness. 

The best thing I'll Have Another going for him in his bloodlines is Distorted Humor—the stallion of Flower Alley. Distorted Humor has an amazing track record and was 2011's leading sire. 

While the attachment of Distorted Humor is enough to point to promise, the overall picture of his pedigree is nowhere near as complete as many of I'll Have Another's competitors. Yet, he's leaving all of those competitors in the dust.  

He is just one win away from being immortal, and he is going to get that win. 

Why I'll Have Another Will Win the Belmont

I'll Have Another's Triple Crown wins have almost been mirror images of each other. He has held patiently back, picked an angle and then attacked the homestretch like he was shot out of a cannon. 

The second win, the Preakness, was especially impressive. At the Derby, leader Bodemeister clearly began to fade. At the Preakness, Bodemeister kept up his speed down the stretch. It just wasn't nearly enough to match I'll Have Another. 

The finishing kick on this horse is amazing, and that is huge at the longer Belmont. This horse can maintain a speed to hang with the pack that leaves it with enough in the tank to explode down the stretch. 

There is not a horse that will be able to hold off that late charge.