Alpha out of Belmont Stakes with fever

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Wood Memorial runner-up Alpha has been taken out of consideration from the Belmont Stakes after coming down with a fever. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin made the announcement Thursday morning.

"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."

Owned by Godolphin Racing, Alpha made a splash early in the season with victories at Aqueduct in the Count Fleet and Withers Stakes. He lost to Gemologist by a neck in the Wood Memorial and was 12th behind I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby.