Belmont Stakes 2012: I'll Have Another Trainer Says 'Bring It On'

The 2012 Belmont Stakes will be the most popular horse race in quite some time. All eyes will be on I’ll Have Another to see if he can become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978 when Affirmed was able to take Belmont, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

I’ll Have Another mimicked his win at the Derby last weekend with the Preakness at Pimlico in Baltimore when he overtook Bodemeister. The horse was the favorite in both races, but I’ll Have Another came from behind to take both.

“Bring it on! We’re ready to go. Super pumped!” O’Neill said as he held court outside the stall of his Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. "I can’t put into words how incredible it is. We’re just on Cloud 9. It’s super exciting.

“It’s hasn’t completely sunk in yet,” he said. “The party out here at the barn after the race was like wow! I’ve never seen anything like that – everyone so excited about horse racing and I’ll Have Another being 2-for-2. I definitely feel the energy and buzz in the air.”

The Belmont is not for another three weeks, but the attention is only going to grow as the horse prepares for the Triple Crown.

2012 Triple Crown: Early Odds Give I'll Have Another The Edge At Belmont Stakes

Will I'll Have Another become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed did it in 1978? It would seem that way as the horse became a clear-cut favorite with Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes runner-up Bodemeister dropping out of the Belmont Stakes.

Here are the early odds that are likely to fluctuate over the next three weeks:

I'll Have Another 3:2

Union Rags 9:2

Dullahan 5:1

Paynter 6:1

Optimizer 12:1

Mark Valeski 15:1

Alpha 18:1

Atigun 20:1

Five Sixteen 20:1

Rousing Sermon 20:1

Street Life 20:1

Guyana Star Dweej 30:1

Stealcase 30:1

The Belmont Stakes will run on June 9. A win there would make I'll Have Another just the 12th horse ever to win the Triple Crown. The horse has come from behind to win in each of the first two races.

For lots more on the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, please visit And Down the Stretch they Come.

VIDEO Analysis: Triple Crown Threat I'll Have Another Wins At Preakness

If you haven't already subscribed to SB Nation's YouTube channel, you really need to do that ASAP. The studios are churning out great vids on top sporting events as well as in-depth features with Amy K. Nelson and Bomani Jones among others. However, the latest to come out is a look back at perhaps the greatest horse race in quite some time: the 2012 Preakness Stakes, which featured a last second surge from I'll Have Another once again over Bodemeister.

Check out Matt Gardner's take live from Pimlico in Baltimore on the photo finish:

For more on the 2012 Preakness, be sure to head over to And Down The Stretch They Come and join the discussion.

VIDEO: I'll Have Another Overtakes Bodemeister At Preakness Stakes

The 2012 Preakness Stakes could not have finished any better for those wanting to see not only an incredible race and close finish but also for the sake of notoriety for the horses involved. Even though I'll Have Another overcame Bodemeister at the final second for his second straight win, both horses are building a significant following and rivalry as the attention now turns to the Triple Crown possibilities for I'll Have Another.

Can Bodemeister finally win at Belmont? Will I'll Have Another sweep all three? It's a storyline that NBC has to love for their horse racing coverage moving forward. For those who missed the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico yesterday, check out the video below:

For more on the 2012 Preakness, be sure to head over to And Down The Stretch They Come and join the discussion.

2012 Preakness: I'll Have Another Wins, Has Shot At Triple Crown

In the the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes it was I'll Have Another who came from behind to win the second leg of the Triple Crown and overtook Bodemeister down the stretch to literally win by a nose, well actually by a neck.

Bodemeister had approximately a one-horse length lead over I'll Have Another and just over two-horse lengths over the rest of the field. The two horses pulled away from the field to win by multiple lengths.

At the start of the race Bodemeister made the way to to the front and set the pace. On the first turn it was Bodemeister who was in front at the first turn, followed by Pretension, Creative Cause and I'll Have Another was four lengths behind. The leaders established a pack right from the get go.

With the win at Baltimore, I'll Have Another will be looking to win horse racings first Triple Crown since Affirmed back in 1978. The final leg of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes which is in three weeks at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

For more on the 2012 Preakness, be sure to head over to And Down The Stretch They Come and join the discussion.

Preakness 2012: Post Time, Positions, TV Coverage And More

Update: Full Preakness results are here.

I'll Have Another looks to continue his run at the 2012 Triple Crown on Saturday, as the Preakness is set to be held on Saturday, May 19.