Here is some of the post-race reaction following Saturday’s Preakness Stakes,during which I’ll Have Another ran down Bodemeister in the final 100 yards to win the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. I’ll Have Another will aim to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 in the Belmont Stakes next month.
Doug O’Neill (Trainer, I’ll Have Another) – “I’m just numb. I could see him and I felt like he was coming, but you never want to expect that he’s going to be in front. I saw him coming.It seemed like the stretch never ends. Thank God. Usually you want it to end. Incredible.”
Mario Gutierrez (Jockey, I’ll Have Another) – "This is not about me. We talked about it with Mr. Reddam and Mr. O’Neill. We wanted to be a little bit closer to Bodemeister this time because normally that horse runs a huge race. My horse has a tremendous kick in the end. He has been proving that in the last three races. He didn’t disappoint again today.”
Bob Baffert (Trainer, Bodemeister) – “It’s one of those things where it’s good for the sport. It’s good for the Belmont. It’s tough.
“I felt really good about where he was. He looked like he was traveling nicely down the backside and coming to the three-eighths pole, he just sat on him. The fractions were more reasonable today, so turning for home I really thought he was going to do it. He just got a little late there at the end. The winner’s a good horse. It was a good horse race. I really can’t complain. We didn’t win it, but my horse ran his race.
Mike Smith (Jockey, Bodemeister) – “I thought I put him away but he (I’ll Have Another) reached up and got us with three strides. Two great horses and I give them all the credit for what they did.”