Belmont Stakes 2012: Horses Who Will End I'll Have Another's Triple Crown Dreams

The 2012 Belmont Stakes present I’ll Have Another with a chance to be the first Triple Crown winner since 1978, but other talented thoroughbreds in the field are going to play spoiler. 

A few horses will be rested and ready to shoot out of the gate while the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes will be running its third race in just over two months. 

The one-and-a-half mile track at Belmont Park will be too much for the Cinderella story, and there will be no fairy tale ending.

Here are the three contenders that will make sure that horse racing’s 34-year streak without a Triple Crown winner will continue. 

Dullahan: 5-1

Dullahan had an excellent finish at the Kentucky Derby, taking third at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Dale Romans and owner Jerry Crawford pulled their horse out of the Preakness and now the colt is ready to hit its stride for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

The road to Belmont was not without some controversy, as jockey Kent Desormeaux was taken off the horse after failing a Breathalyzer test prior to the Preakness. But the horse will be in good hands with veteran jockey Javier Castellano.

This is a talented thoroughbred that proved it could compete with top competition at the Derby. If I’ll Have Another is not at its very best on June 9, Dullahan will beat the two-leg winner to the finish line.

Union Rags: 6-1

Even though Union Rags disappointed with a seventh-place finish at the Derby, this horse’s talent is undeniable. 

Associated Press writer Richard Rosenblatt, via Yahoo! Sports, quoted trainer Michael Matz as saying, “Obviously we've been a little disappointed. We feel that Union Rags hasn't been able to really run his race. We think he can do the mile and a half. He's training really, really well.''

If this horse is able to get out and run like Matz is hoping it will, it will finally show off its speed. With a favorable draw in post No. 3, Union Rags has a great shot at clearing some space and letting loose.

If Union Rags lives up to its potential and avoids disappointment for the second straight race, it will end I’ll Have Another’s hope for a Triple Crown win. 

Paynter: 8-1 odds

Bob Baffert will be looking for a little revenge at Belmont. The legendary trainer watched I’ll Have Another run down his horse, Bodemeister, in both the Derby and the Preakness.

Despite being favored, Bodemeister was unable to hold of a late charge from Mario Gutierrez and I’ll Have Another in each race. Now, Baffert’s other Triple Crown horse, Paynter, has a shot to give its trainer some redemption. 

Any Ahmed Zayat-owned horse that is trained by Baffert will have a shot at performing well. Veteran jockey Mike Smith is sure to execute flawless strategy once the gates open.

Paynter has an incredible team prepping it for this race and every ounce of speed will be coaxed out of the horse. It will be right there with I’ll Have Another down the stretch, forcing the two-leg winner to show how badly it wants the Triple Crown.