I’ll Have Another scratched from Belmont Stakes

I’ll Have Another, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, will be scratched from the Belmont Stakes because of an undisclosed injury.

Jay Privman, the national correspondent for the Daily Racing Form, tweeted the news Friday. Trainer Doug O’Neill told “The Dan Patrick Show” that the horse “is officially out of the Belmont.”

Times columnist Bill Dwyre, who is at Elmont, N.Y., to cover the race, said that a news conference has been called for later today.

I’ll Have Another was trying to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years.

According to a person at Elmont, N.Y., who requested anonymity, the horse galloped Thursday and didn’t look exactly right when he came back. Then O’Neill took him back out at 5:30 a.m. Friday, much earlier than the 8 a.m. scheduled time for Belmont horses. I’ll Have Another looked OK after that, but a veterinarian did some tests that showed the horse has minor tendinitis in a leg.

This is not believed to be a career-ending injury, and the decision may have been affected by the scrutiny O’Neill is facing, where he just could not afford to have the horse break down or pull up.

“It’s not tragic, but it’s a huge disappointment,” O’Neill told Patrick.

We will bring you more on this developing story throughout the day here at latimes.com/sports.

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