Belmont Stakes 2012: Underrated Horses That Will Challenge I'll Have Another

I'll Have Another is going to be the clear favorite at the Belmont Stakes, but this is a deep and talented field with plenty of horses that can pull the upset.

And I'm not talking about Union Rags and Dullahan—who both have a good chance at beating I'll Have Another—either.

Even after these three powerhouses, there are some very good horses that will run this race. Let's take a look. 

Paynter

You're likely going to get favorable odds with Paynter, and when you can get favorable odds with a horse trained by Bob Baffert, you take them.

Not only does Paynter have one of the best trainers, he has a decent amount of experience. Back in April, he went up against I'll Have Another in the Santa Anita Derby and finished just four lengths from the lead. 

He's coming off a win in an allowance race at Pimlico, and he'll be ready to go in New York. It's an unknown as to whether or not he can go the whole mile-and-a-half, but he'll challenge the leaders early, that's for sure.

Alpha

Alpha may be coming off a disappointing 12th-place finish at the Kentucky Derby, but he skipped the Preakness and is coming back for Belmont, which is a race that trainer Kiaran McLaughlin believes he's better suited for.

What Alpha really has going for him is his pedigree. He has A.P. Indy, Seattle Slew and Secretariat all on the family line, and those are some good horses to be related to. 

Don't be surprised if Alpha, who finished second last year at the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont, bounces back from his poor showing at Churchill.

He has proven to be impressive in New York. 

Unstoppable U

Um, first of all, his name is Unstoppable U. I'm not going to be the one to bet against a horse with a name like that. 

But other than that, this inexperienced horse is a good bet if you are looking for a big-time long shot. He only has two races under his, uh, belt (I wish horses wore belts), but one was a mile-long win at Belmont and the other was also an easy win.

He may be inexperienced, but he's untested and has proven he knows how to win. Throw in his solid pedigree, and that's about all you can ask for in a long shot. 

If you want to make some money, take Unstoppable U for the low-risk, high-reward pick. 

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