Belmont Stakes 2012 Odds: Early Numbers for I'll Have Another and Field

I’ll Have Another doesn’t need the numbers.

The thoroughbred that’s thrived as an underdog finally has the odds on his side. But considering that oddsmakers didn’t have his back at the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes and he still won both races, has to make you question the value of such statistics.

Anyway, here are the early odds for the 2012 Belmont Stakes (via Belmont-Stakes.info).

• Alpha: 18/1
• Atigun: 20/1
• Dullahan: 8/1
• Five Sixteen: 20/1
• Guyana Star Dweej: 30/1
• I’ll Have Another: 3/2
• Mark Valeski: 15/1
• Optimizer: 12/1
• Paynter: 8/1
• Rousing Sermon: 20/1
• Stealcase: 30/1
• Street Life: 30/1
• Union Rags: 6/1

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice, I really suck at life.

It looks likes oddsmakers learned their lesson.

I’ll Have Another was a 15/1 underdog at Churchill Downs. After winning the Derby, he still was labeled an underdog to Bodemeister at the Preakness. This time around, though, Bodemeister isn’t expected to run and even if he would be, I doubt there would be any debate as to who’s the favorite going into the Belmont.

If I’ll Have Another were to pull off the trifecta, he’d boast the lowest odds going into the Kentucky Derby out of any Triple Crown winner by far. Listed at 3/2 now, though, the odds are stacked overwhelmingly in his favor.

According to Jerry Bossart of the New York Daily News, I’ll Have Another’s owner J. Paul Reddman wasn’t too confident about reaching this point after his horse’s slow start on Saturday. He said after the race:

"

I didn’t like the way it was shaping up. I could see coming out (of the) turn it was going to be a dogfight. He had some ground to make up, and Bodemeister wasn’t stopping. I wasn’t sure we’d get there, but our horse has a lot of heart and a lot of fight.

"

And that’s exactly why I’ll Have Another should be the heavy favorite going into the Belmont. In two straight races, seemingly insurmountable late Bodemeister leads have evaporated faster than you can say "holy crap, this race isn’t over." I’ll Have Another just won’t get knocked out by a less physically gifted horse—his heart and fight won’t allow it.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels