The 2012 Belmont Stakes is upcoming on June 9 and with the date fast approaching the importance of training and staying injury free is vital if I'll Have Another is going to win the Triple Crown.

Matt Gardner of SB Nation's horse racing blog, And Down the Stretch they Come, discusses the importance of I'll Have Another and their training leading up to the Belmont Stakes. The first key point is to keep I'll Have Another on their similar training schedule so to not interrupt their normal routine. I'll Have Another has already been in Belmont training and getting a feel for the track for next week's race.

Training is key but so is monitoring for injuries. Gardner explains how back in 2008 that Big Brown was going for the Triple Crown buts the horse suffered a minor injury that interrupted their training regimen, and ultimately they raced poorly at the Belmont.

Keeping I'll Have Another injury free is key so that the horse can have uninterrupted training sessions leading up to the Belmont Stakes.

For much more on the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, please visit And Down the Stretch they Come.