On June 9, I'll Have Another will attempt to become the first horse in 34 years to win the Triple Crown.
Should the young colt accomplish this marvelous feat, most will be overjoyed, but there are some cons as well.
Let's take a look at both sides of the potential Triple Crown victory.
Pros
It's the Triple Crown!
All things aside, horse racing's Triple Crown is easily one of the best achievements in sports, and it becomes even greater when we go so long without seeing it.
In the 70's, three horses won the Triple Crown. Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed all did it, but there has been nothing since.
Horses such as Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Smarty Jones have come incredibly close, but no horse has completed the tall task.
Above all else, simply seeing the magical event that is a Triple Crown victory would be worth watching no matter who you are.
Classic Underdog story
Not only would it be nice to see a horse win the Triple Crown, but the way I'll Have Another is going about it certainly adds to the intrigue.
This is a horse that was a 14-1 long shot at the Kentucky Derby, but made a dramatic comeback in the final 100 yards to win. Then, at Pimlico, everyone favored Bodemeister. Once again, I'll Have Another made a late, heart-stopping dash in the final stretch to secure victory.
Oh yeah, and he is ridden by Mario Gutierrez, who was a virtually unknown jockey a few months ago.
The talented colt doesn't just win, he puts some drama into it. Should he do it again at the Belmont Stakes, he'll provide plenty of material for Disney to make a movie.
Cons
Takes Away the Luster
If I'll Have Another manages to come in first in New York, horse racing will gain tons of positive exposure in the next few weeks.
But, then, what happens in the coming years? Every time a horse wins the Derby and Preakness, there won't be as many eyes on that horse to win the Triple Crown.
Part of the intrigue is that this kind of thing hasn't happened in 34 years. Suddenly, if it's something that happened just last year, people won't put as much stock into it.
Controversy
Should I'll Have Another win the Triple Crown, those who don't support Doug O'Neill won't be happy.
Just last week, O'Neill (via The New York Times) was suspended for 45 days after "exceeding the allowable limit for total carbon dioxide in one of his horses."
According to the report, it was the third time O'Neill has been in trouble with this sort of thing.
Should one of his horses win the Triple Crown, there will likely be unfriendly uproar and many won't recognize I'll Have Another as a true champion.
Even if this exciting horse is more than deserving of the Triple Crown honor, we don't need stories like that clouding such a magnificent accomplishment.
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