Belmont Stakes 2012: Biggest Threats to I'll Have Another's Triple Crown Chase

Winning the Belmont Stakes to complete the Triple Crown is no walk in the park.

Not convinced? Just ask any of the last 11 horses to finish first at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes how they fared in their subsequent trips to New York.

I'll Have Another will look to end that streak and become the first treble champion since Affirmed in 1978. Bodemeister's absence from the field would appear to make I'll Have Another as good a bet as any to finish off the final leg in style, though these three contenders would certainly beg to differ.

Union Rags

Union Rags will look to bounce back from a rough go at the Derby to end I'll Have Another's run at history at the Belmont. The Michael Matz trainee finished seventh at Churchill Downs after entering the race as a 9-2 morning-line favorite, albeit on account of some bad luck out of the gate.

With a new jockey on board and five weeks of rest under his belt, expect Union Rags to fare much better in New York than he did in Kentucky, especially without a huge field to pinch him out of the running from the get-go.  

Dullahan

Like Union Rags, Dullahan was nowhere to be found at the Preakness, though his absence was somewhat more conspicuous. A third-place finish at the Derby, behind only I'll Have Another and Bodemeister, seemed to set Dullahan up for success shortly thereafter.

But, evidently, his handlers felt otherwise, as they chose instead to rest their steed rather than run him out there on two weeks rest. That decision may well pay off handsomely for trainer Dale Romans and Donegal Racing, assuming Dullahan puts that extra R&R to good use in New York. 

Paynter

Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith did all they could with Bodemeister, pushing the gifted colt to within some unfortunately heavy legs of being the big story heading into the Belmont.

That doesn't mean you won't hear from them in New York, though. They'll be teaming up again on June 9 with Paynter, another beauty out of Zayat Stables. He's frighteningly green, with only four starts in his career, though a recent allowance win (by nearly six lengths) makes Paynter a danger to anyone hoping to see I'll Have Another run away with the Triple Crown.

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