Belmont Stakes 2012: Picks from Around the Web

As I'll Have Another attempts to enter horse racing immortality, many racing fans are hoping to strike it rich while betting on the Belmont Stakes. I'll Have Another is considered to be a heavy favorite after his stirring victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but there are certainly some horses who can give him a run.

Horse racing experts and fans across the Internet have been making their selections, and while some expect I'll Have Another to nab the Triple Crown, others aren't so sure. You never know what might happen in horse racing, and that is what makes it so exciting.

Here are some of the more interesting Belmont Stakes picks from across the web that may or may not help you as you prepare to make your selections.

Hank Goldberg (ESPN)

ESPN's general gambling analyst Hank Goldberg didn't come right out and make a Belmont pick, but from his recent video, he seems to be leaning toward Union Rags. At 6/1, Union Rags is an interesting choice since he didn't have a particularly good showing in the Kentucky Derby. He skipped the Preakness, though, and will be looking to spoil I'll Have Another's chances.

Goldberg seems to really like Union Rag's odds and attributes his poor finishes to bad luck. It's tough to say whether or not that is true, but Goldberg has been handicapping for quite some time. There are far worse picks if you're looking for an upset.

Dave Tuley (View From Vegas)

I'll Have Another will be forced to start on the outside, which is normally considered a disadvantage for a horse, but Dave Tuley of View From Vegas tweeted that he doesn't expect it to be an issue for the red-hot colt. Seeing as the Belmont is the longest of the three Triple Crown races, I'll Have Another will have plenty of time to find his spot on the track as jockey Mario Gutierrez guides him.

I'll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby from the outside, and that is a far more difficult race to navigate as it is shorter and cluttered with 20 horses. Gutierrez somehow found the right trip that time, so I don't anticipate him having much trouble doing it again, and neither does Tuley.

SpreadShed

It appears as though Union Rags is quickly becoming the chic pick to dethrone I'll Have Another as betting site SpreadShed also tweeted that it would be backing Union Rags. Some other horses to consider are Dullahan and Paynter, the former of which will come from behind like I'll Have Another and the latter of which is likely to set the pace. Union Rags was among the Kentucky Derby favorites, however, so he is a horse of interest.

I'll Have Another had to make an amazing run in each of his Triple Crown race wins to nip Bodemeister at the wire, so few are expecting him to blow the field out of the water. Since I'll Have Another has so little margin for error, an upset could definitely be in the cards.

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