Former Surrey-turned-Southern California jockey Mario Gutierrez and horse I’ll Have Another are one race away from history.
And they’ll look to add their names to the record books Saturday, at the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, NY.
Gutierrez, a Mexico native who spent six years in Surrey while he raced at Hastings Park under horse-owner Glen Todd, has already won the first two legs of thoroughbred racing’s prestigious Triple Crown, beating pre-race favourite Bodemeister in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes last month. In both races, Gutierrez and I’ll Have Another made a late-race charge to overtake the leader.
No horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978, and only 11 have won since 1919.
Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, which is the longest race of the three Triple-Crown races at 1½ miles, begins at 3:35 p.m.
