Sports

twogunsid

(1,607 posts) Wed May 30, 2012, 03:40 PM May 2012

Affirmed's Owner: Ready to Pass the TC Torch

From bloodhorse.com: Affirmed, the last horse to sweep the Triple Crown. We’ve been hearing that now for 34 years. Eleven horses have won the first two legs since Affirmed in 1978 and all came up short in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Some appeared worthy at the time of joining the 11 immortals who have accomplished racing’s most difficult feat, while others did not.

Patrice Wolfson, who owned Affirmed with her husband Louis under the banned Harbor View Farm, feels it’s time to pass the torch to a horse she believes is worthy to follow in the footsteps of Affirmed.

“There were years I felt it wasn’t the right time to relinquish (the title of ‘last Triple Crown winner’),” Wolfson said on a national teleconference. “But I think the time is right. This little guy (I'll Have Another) would be a worthy successor. He’s very tenacious in the stretch, he strides out beautifully in his gallops, and is a very exciting horse to watch. There’s something about him that reminds me a little of Affirmed, the way he wants to win. I just think it’s time. Racing needs a star and he could be a star.”

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/70167/affirmeds-owner-ready-to-pass-the-tc-torch#ixzz1wNqGfMPG

7 replies

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Highlight:

Affirmed's Owner: Ready to Pass the TC Torch (Original Post) twogunsid May 2012 OP

O'Neill, Turner Discuss Belmont Preparations... twogunsid May 2012 #1

Aint gonna happen. trumad May 2012 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author twogunsid May 2012 #4

I'm on the IHA Bandwagon!!!.... twogunsid May 2012 #5

20 bucks...paypal. trumad May 2012 #6

OK.... twogunsid May 2012 #7

Uno Mas Mario... twogunsid May 2012 #3

twogunsid

(1,607 posts)

1. O'Neill, Turner Discuss Belmont Preparations...

Reply to twogunsid (Original post)

Wed May 30, 2012, 03:46 PM

May 2012

From bloodhorse.com: As he continues to prepare I'll Have Another for the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), trainer Doug O’Neill on May 30 recounted a conversation he had with trainer Billy Turner, who trained 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.

“We spoke for 30-40 minutes,” O’Neill said after watching his colt gallop at Belmont Park. “What a great man and a cool guy! He gave us a lot of helpful tips on how to prepare our guy for the big one. The one thing Billy said was… having the horse here earlier than later is a big edge. The fact that we’re here is huge. We talked about how not only do jockeys need to kind of figure out the oval, but horses do as well. Between the surface and the horses getting used to the oval, the earlier you’re here, the better.”

If he wins the Belmont, I’ll Have Another will become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The son of Flower Alley has posted scintillating come-from-behind victories in both the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I). O’Neill does not plan an officially timed workout for the colt before the Belmont."

“I had asked him about breezing, because I’m not planning on breezing I’ll Have Another," O'Neill said. "He said he only breezed Seattle Slew twice between the Preakness and Belmont because he needed to take the edge off him, because he was such a high energy horse. As you see I’ll Have Another is a pretty mellow horse, really.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/70168/oneill-turner-discuss-belmont-preparations#ixzz1wNrUuErm