Following a second come from behind defeat in the final length at the hands of horse racing's newest sweetheart I'll Have Another, Bodemeister will not be participating in the final league of the triple crown at the Belmont Stakes according to his trainer, Bob Baffert.

His comments via USA Today:

Bob Baffert, winner of five Preakness Stakes and trainer of Bodemeister, said I'll Have Another's win is good for the sport and good for the Belmont.

"The winner's a good horse," Baffert said. "He'll get the respect now that he deserves. I'm proud that as a trainer my horse showed up and he ran his race. He just got beat."

Baffert said he will not send Bodemeister to the Belmont Stakes. "I wasn't going to go, win lose or draw," he said. "I've run him pretty hard."

The Belmont field will still be strong with Union Rags and Dullahan expected to run. It will be interesting to see if I'll Have Another can still finish strong without Bodemeister out in front setting the pace.

For more in-depth coverage on the 2012 Preakness, be sure to check out And Down The Stretch They Come and join the discussion.