Godolphin Racing’s Alpha will miss the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 9
after developing a fever, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Thursday.
“He spiked a temperature on Tuesday evening,” McLaughlin said. “103. He was
fine by 11 p.m. that evening after treatment, fine yesterday, and he’s fine
today, but it’s too high a temperature too close to the race. It’s unfortunate.”
Alpha finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby. Earlier this year, the son of
Bernardini won Aqueduct Racetrack’s Count Fleet and Grade 3 Withers and finished
second in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial prior to the Derby.
His defection reduces the prospective Belmont field to 11: I’ll Have Another,
Atigun, Dullahan, Five Sixteen, Guyana Star Dweej, Optimizer, Paynter, Ravelo’s
Boy, Street Life, Union Rags and Unstoppable U.
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