Belmont Stakes 2012 Horses: Breakdown on This Year's Sleepers

I'll Have Another, Union Rags and Dullahan are the big-ticket names involved in this year's Belmont Stakes, but other horses deserve some attention as well.

These "sleeper" horses will try to defy all odds in Saturday's race.

Let's take a look at each sleeper in this year's Belmont Stakes.

Optimizer

Optimizer faces long-shot odds, but he has a lot of recent racing experience.

He finished sixth in the Preakness Stakes and 11th in the Kentucky Derby. If he can adjust to Belmont's extremely long track, he could contend.

Prior to the Triple Crown races, Optimizer ran in four competitions this year. He finished in the top 10 of each race.

His pedigree lends itself to speed rather than endurance, but he could surprise spectators with a strong showing in the Triple Crown's final leg.

Street Life

Street Life has not competed in a Triple Crown race this year, but he has performed on the Belmont track.

He did not run the Stakes' mile-and-a-half distance, but he did cover one-and-one-eighth of a mile. He finished third in the Peter Pan race.

Street Life is sired from Street Cry. He has a solid blend of speed and endurance, but he is unproven on the grand stage.

He is considered a long shot, but this under-the-radar entry could charge his way up the leaderboard.

Paynter

Bob Baffert did not enter Bodemeister in this year's Belmont Stakes, but he is putting Paynter into the mix. Paynter won the Pimlico Allowance, and is considered an extremely fast horse.

Paynter has not won a major race of this caliber, and he has never run this distance before. He has the speed, pedigree and training to compete, but his inexperience will eventually force him to fade.

Baffert's name could inspire some observers to root for Paynter, or at least pay attention to him.

People will keep watching once they see how fast he can run with a little room.

Atigun

Atigun won the Optional Claimer earlier this year, and he finished fifth in the Arkansas Derby. He has a 9-3-1-0 career record.

Sired by Gone West, Atigun has showed one-plus mile endurance. His speed is limited, but he gains steam in the second half of races.

Long-shot odds will probably prevail in Saturday's contest, but Atigun is not unfamiliar with the winning feeling. Victory in the Optional Allowance gives Atigun, and his handlers, confidence.

He will probably not challenge I'll Have Another for Belmont glory, but he could find his way into the pack.