Belmont Stakes 2012 Odds: Top Contenders Sure to Fade Down the Stretch

Even if you have strong odds at the Belmont Stakes, there are a wealth of factors to consider, including the overall field and your post position.

As we get set for the 2012 Belmont Stakes on Saturday, there are several contenders with decent odds that will have a hard time placing.

Here's a look at three top contenders who I see fading down the stretch at Belmont Park.

Note: Odds via BelmontStakes.com.

3. Union Rags (6-1)

Union Rags won the Fountain of Youth Stakes in February, and he put forth a strong effort at the Florida Derby with a third-place finish, but his seventh-place finish at the Kentucky Derby was disappointing.

Union Rags is a surely a contender, but I just don't know if he has enough to place at the Belmont Stakes. On top of that, the No. 3 post has placed just once since 2002 if you exclude 2007, which only had a field of seven horses.

2. Paynter (8-1)

Paynter may be too inexperienced to make a true run in the Belmont Stakes. He only has four starts to his name and in his biggest race, the Santa Anita Derby, he placed fourth. He may be a Bob Baffert horse, but I still find it hard to believe he'll place in the 12-horse field at Belmont Park.  

1. Street Life (15-1)

Street Life has two wins on the year, and he placed third at the Peter Pan Stakes in May, but he has yet to run a race of this magnitude, and it doesn't help that he has a poor post position at the No. 1 slot. The No. 1 slot produced a winner in 2003, but that only included six horses. Beyond that, the No. 1 position has placed only once in the past 10 years at Belmont Park.

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