NEW YORK (AP) — Trainer Doug O’Neill welcomed an uneventful morning at Belmont Park for I’ll Have Another one day after his Triple Crown hopeful narrowly avoided a collision with a loose horse.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner took advantage of a newly-implemented designated training time for Belmont Stakes horses with his typical 1 12-mile gallop, the same distance as the race on June 9.
O’Neill says the setting Friday was “awesome” and “cool.”
I’ll Have Another came close to a frightful accident Thursday after Isleta, a 3-year-old maiden filly, broke free and grazed the boot of exercise rider Jonny Garcia. Hours later, the New York Racing Association set aside a window for Belmont starters, from 8:30-8:45 a.m. ET.
Another horse got away from his handler in the barn area approximately 10 minutes after I’ll Have Another returned to his stall.
