Belmont Stakes 2012: Bold Predictions for Saturday's Race

I’ll Have Another enters the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes with the hopes of becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Funny Cide gave it a run in 2003 but finished third. Smarty Jones just missed in 2004 with a second-place finish, and Big Brown failed to finish the race in 2008, as he too fell short of the coveted Triple Crown.

We have seen our fair share of failures over the past 34 years, and unfortunately for horse racing fans around the world, I think we’re in for yet another disappointing finish in 2012.

One thing is for certain. From what we’ve seen out of I’ll Have Another to this point, the horse has heart. The horse comes alive down the home stretch and seems to possess that winning mindset that simply cannot be trained.

I’ll Have Another has yet to lose with jockey Mario Gutierrez on board, winning their last four times out in major grade stakes races. They won by a nose in the Santa Anita Derby, by a length-and-a-half in the Kentucky Derby and by a neck at the Preakness.

I don’t foresee I’ll Have Another pulling out another close victory at Belmont, but then again, the horse always seems to find a way to edge out the opposition. Trainer Doug O’Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam sure hope that their horse has what it takes to close out the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Heading into Saturday, there are a few horses that could easily spoil I’ll Have Another’s attempt at horse racing history.

Let’s start with Union Rags.

Jockey John Velasquez was impressed by the horse in their first workout together Sunday morning. He breezed to a 58.5 second five-furlong workout in what seemed to be an effortless run by Union Rags. After a disappointing seventh-place finish at the Kentucky Derby and time off taken for the Preakness, Union Rags will be fresh and ready to show the world why he was nearly favored at 5-1 odds in the Kentucky Derby.

The 4-1 favorite from the Kentucky Derby, Bodemeister, was just barely beat out by I’ll Have Another in both the Derby and the Preakness.

Legendary trainer Bob Baffert has decided to now go in a different direction at Belmont, giving Bodemeister a rest and putting Paynter up against the field this time around. Paynter is currently sitting at 8-1 odds, and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will be at the reigns.

Smith won the Belmont Stakes in 2010 on Drosselmeyer, who went off at 13-1. He also shocked the world at the Kentucky Derby in 2005 as he rode the 50-1 underdog Giacomo to victory. Together, Bob Baffert and Mike Smith have high hopes of upsetting I'll Have Another at this year’s Belmont Stakes, and rightfully so.

Another horse to lookout for in the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes is trainer Chad Brown’s Street Life.

Street Life finished third at the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont in May but looked best amongst the field coming on late in the one-and-one-eight mile race. With the distance being stretched to one-and-a-half miles this time around, it’ll be interesting to see how jockey Jose Lezcano and Street Life perform on the dirt once again at Belmont Park. Starting off at 15-1 odds, Street Life has a great opportunity to, at the very least, hit the board.

The biggest threat that I’ll Have Another will face come Saturday is the return of Dullahan.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux has been relieved of his duties after a failed attempt at the Kentucky Derby and a failed breathalyzer test before the Preakness. Now, jockey Javier Castellano will have his chance atop a horse that could potentially ruin I’ll Have Another’s Triple Crown dreams.

After missing the Preakness, Dullahan comes out well rested and ready for redemption. He ran a four-furlong workout in under 46 seconds Sunday morning, and the horse looks primed to take a trip to the winner’s circle at Belmont.

As is always true with horse racing, it’s a betting man’s game, and the morning line odds will start in I’ll Have Another’s favor.

However, we have seen favorites flourish and flounder over the years in the hunt for the Triple Crown. Anything is possible as the horses step onto the dirt at the Belmont Stakes. As one pursues Triple Crown history this Saturday, 10 others look to spoil it and make some history of their own.