Belmont Stakes 2012 Odds: Breaking Down the Best and Worst Bets

If you're planning on making money off the Belmont Stakes, you need to find a middle ground.

The favorites are obviously your best chance of picking the right choice, but they won't get you much return. The long shots, on the other hand, are too big of underdogs to rely on.

It's all about the middle ground.

With that being said, here's a look at what horses you should be betting on for the Belmont Stakes, and what horses you must stay away from.

Note: Odds come from sportsbook.ag

Best Bets:

Paynter (8/1)

Paynter's odds have actually lowered as time has gone on, but that's just because he is such a popular bet.

There's still time to get on board the Paynter train and still get good value, but you might not have much time. 

The talented three-year-old has plenty going in his favor. First, he's a Bob Baffert-trained horse. Baffert has won nine Triple Crown events, including the Belmont Stakes in 2011.

He's one of the best in the business.

Throw in the fact that Paynter is coming off a win at Belmont—albeit an allowance race—and finished just three or four lengths behind I'll Have Another at the Santa Anita Derby, and this is a good horse with good odds.

Street Life (12/1)

While Street Life has been fairly disappointing as of late, he has experience both in big races (Grade-1 Wood Memorial in April) and at Belmont (Grade-2 Peter Pan in May).

What's more, he will be coming out of the No. 1 post position. Not everyone likes to be on the inside, but according to trainer Chad Brown, jockey Jose Lezcano loves it:

"

I talked to my jockey the other day, Jose Lezcano, and I asked him, "Where do you want to be?" and he said, "I like to be inside." You can’t get any more inside than that. He got his wish. That’s where he wants to be.

"

At 12-to-1, you might as well take a shot on Street Life.

Bad Bets

I'll Have Another (1/1)

I believe I'll Have Another will win the Triple Crown, but at 1-to-1 odds, I'm not going to bet on it. That's just not a good enough return.

Now, if you're filling out a trifecta or something where you can still make some good money, feel free to go with I'll Have Another.

If you're betting on a straight-up winner, though, stay away.

Union Rags (5/1)

Union Rags has some seriously impressive closing speed, and the long track at Belmont will certainly benefit him.

However, he has had some disappointing results as of late because of his propensity to get bottled up near the inside at the beginning of races.

I've been saying that how he does at Belmont will depend on his post position, and now that he has No. 3, I'm not optimistic. 

Five-to-one odds aren't so bad for a horse as good as Union Rags, but with the chance of getting bottled up near the rail so high, I'm not risking it. 

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