Belmont Stakes 2012: Dullahan Poses Real Threat to I'll Have Another

The entire racing world will have their eyes glued to I’ll Have Another at next Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, but don’t forget the name Dullahan.

After finishing third at the Kentucky Derby behind I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister, trainer Dale Romans was set on racing him at the Preakness. However, owner Jerry Crawford overruled him to ensure he was 100-percent ready for the Belmont Stakes.

When Romans recently spoke with The Racing Forum, he sounded like a man who had changed his tune:

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I did want to run in the Preakness. But Jerry said no, and in hindsight, I think he made the right call. We've got a fresh horse for the Belmont, and I couldn't be happier with how he's doing.

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Dullahan will have enjoyed a five-week break when June 9 rolls around, and recent history suggests that rest could really pay off in the most grueling race of the Triple Crown.

Since 2000, there have been five horses to skip the middle leg of the Triple Crown and take home the win at Belmont. Those horses were Commendable (2000), Empire Maker (2003), Birdstone (2004), Jazil (2006) and Summer Bird (2009).

Dullahan didn’t have a ton of buzz around him entering Churchill Downs because many believed he was nothing more than a turf/synthetic surface horse that would struggle on the dirt. However, after finishing in third place at the Derby, it became clear that his stone-cold closing running style will translate to any track.

He is at his best lurking until the final eight to 10 lengths, at which point he explodes to the finish line. The long 1.5 mile track will give him plenty of time to make his move.

I’ll Have Another is not only racing against the field, he is going against history as well. He is attempting to become just the 12th Triple Crown winner of all time, a feat that no horse has accomplished since 1978. The odds are not in his favor.

Not to take anything away from I’ll Have Another, but he has experienced plenty of luck in reaching this stage. Just because Bodemeister won’t be participating doesn’t mean he won’t have some serious competition at Belmont Park.

The well-rested Dullahan has a great shot of outlasting I’ll Have Another to deny history. 

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