Belmont Stakes 2012: Union Rags and Threats to I'll Have Another's Triple Crown

Union Rags is one of the top threats to I'll Have Another's Triple Crown bid at this year's Belmont Stakes. 

I'll Have Another is poised to become the first horse since Affirmed to claim the rare honor of a Triple Crown, and Affirmed did it all the way back in 1978. It's about time for history to be made once again, but it won't be an easy task.

The Belmont Stakes is called "The Test of Champions" for good reason. It is incredibly difficult to win all three races that make up the Triple Crown, and Belmont is the toughest test of all due to the increased length of the track.

The Kentucky Derby was 1 1/4 miles long and the Preakness was 1 3/16 miles long, but the Belmont makes both of them look short at a full 1 1/2 miles long. 

I'll Have Another seems to have an advantage over the rest of the field due to his incredible top gear, which he starts cranking up around the 1 1/8-mile mark—right around the time that the rest of the contestants start losing steam.

That being said, I'll Have Another has run both legs of the Triple Crown so far, while Union Rags didn't run at the Preakness, giving him fresher legs at the start of the Belmont.

Here are the two other horses that have a chance to ruin I'll Have Another's Triple Crown dreams.

Dullahan

Dullahan finished in third place at the Kentucky Derby this year. Donegal Racing decided to rest the colt after the race, saying "his future is best served by not asking him to race for the third time in just five weeks in the Preakness," according to the AP (via the Sporting News).

Dullahan recently ran a killer time at the length of five furlongs at Churchill Downs, in preparation for the Belmont. He posted the second-best time out of 26 horses at the distance, according to Jack Shinar of ESPN.com.

If everything goes Dullahan's way and if I'll Have Another fails to rekindle the magic that won him the first two races, Dullahan could steal the race from the Triple Crown hopeful.

Optimizer

Optimizer didn't fare well at the Kentucky Derby, posting an 11th-place finish. He did a better job on the longer track at this year's Preakness, finishing in sixth place. 

Optimizer comes from the bloodline of A.P. Indy, a long-distance racer. He has the genetic disposition to possibly give I'll Have Another a run for his money at this year's Belmont, though the Vegas doesn't see him putting up a huge fight with 30/1 odds.

He is definitely a dark horse to win the race, but on this long track at Belmont, anything's possible.

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