Triple Crown hopeful 'I'll Have Another' scratched from Belmont

There will not be a Triple Crown winner this Saturday at Belmont Racetrack.  In a stunning development Friday morning, trainer Doug O'Neill announced that I'll Have Another— the winner of the Kentucky Derby and The Preakness— has been scratched form the Belmont Stakes with a front leg injury.

Speaking on the Dan Patrick show, O'Neill said the three-year old colt— going for the first Triple Crown since 1978— will be scratched.

"I'll have Another is officially out of the Belmont," O'Neill said on the program.  "I don't want to take a chance with it."

" I feel terrible about it," said the trainer outside the barn early Friday morning.  He said it was an injury which could end the horse's racing career.

A press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m.

On Wednesday, the colt spent a restful night in the new state-mandated barn and appeared to be fine Thursday morning.  He went to the track at 5:30 a.m. Friday for his final workout before the race.

"It's been very hectic the last few days, so we thought we would take him out when it's quieter," O'Neill said before he discovered the injury.

There were rumors that the colt had injured itself by "kicking a bucket" but those stories haven't been confirmed.

The elimination of I'll Have Another from the race ends its bid to become only the 12th triple Crown winner in horse racing history.

Anticipation of the 4-5 favorite to make history was so high, tickets to see the race were being scalped at prices as high as $800.