I'll Have Another draws No. 11 for Belmont

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ELMONT, N.Y., June 6 (UPI) -- I'll Have Another will start from post position No. 11 Saturday as he tries to nail down the first Triple Crown championship in 34 years.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner was installed as the 4-5 favorite for the 1 1/2-mile test around the sweeping Belmont Park main track as trainer Doug O'Neill said the draw was OK with him.

"It will allow us to see how the pace sets up," he said.

Twelve 3-year-olds were entered for the Belmont. Dullahan and Union Rags, who finished third and seventh in the Kentucky Derby are regarded as the main threats. Neither got a clean trip in the Derby while I'll Have Another had things all his own way in that race. And while I'll Have Another was all out in winning the Preakness three weeks ago, Dullahan and Union Rags passed up that race in preparation for the Belmont.

Dullahan will start Saturday from gate No. 5; Union Rags, No. 6.

While I'll Have Another is given a good chance by odds makers worldwide to end the long Triple Crown drought, the race has been an insurmountable hurdle for some excellent contenders during the past three decades. The last to win all three was Affirmed in 1978. Those who have won the Derby and Preakness since then, only to come a cropper in the Belmont:

Spectacular Bid (1979, third), Pleasant Colony (1981, third), Alysheba (1987, fourth), Sunday Silence (1989, second), Silver Charm (1997, second), Real Quiet (1998, second), Charismatic (1999, third), War Emblem (2002, eighth), Funny Cide (2003, third), Smarty Jones (2004, second) and Big Brown (2008, ninth).

The Belmont Stakes will be broadcast live on NBC-TV with an approximate post time of 6:40 p.m. EDT.