Belmont Stakes 2012 Post Positions: Studs That Got Wronged by Slotting

If I'll Have Another has a chance of winning the Belmont Stakes, then he'll be one of a few contenders that must overcome a bad post position to do so.

The starting spot is not as important as it is in other races due to the longer track and smaller field. However, there is definitely an advantage to getting an inside post.

Since the race began in 1905, 23 horses have won out of the No. 1 spot—10 more than any other post. This year at the Belmont race track, a leading 18.5 percent of winners have come out of the same spot.

Street Life was the fortunate horse to draw that post this year, automatically becoming one of the most dangerous competitors in this field.

As for the rest of the post positions, a few top horses must be disappointed with Wednesday's draw.

I'll Have Another

The Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby winner is trying to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to captured the elusive Triple Crown.

Unfortunately, seven other horses have gotten this far since 1997. 

I'll Have Another will have to overcome starting in the No. 11 post. Few horses have been able to win from a double-digit post in the race's history, so that might be a struggle for the overwhelming favorite.

The good news is that the horse has shown the ability to come from behind on the outside in the last two races. If fans are going to witness history, I'll Have Another will have to do it one more time.

My Adonis

As a late entry to the Belmont Stakes, it is hard to complain about any position. However, at No. 12, My Adonis starts as the furthest outside horse.

Only one horse—Sarava in 2002—has ever won from this post.

Being directly next to the favorite, I'll Have Another, will also hurt the horse's chances of getting out to a good start.

Even with 20-1 odds, it might be a longshot.

Dullahan

The No. 5 spot is not the worst place for a contender to start, but the surrounding horses might spell doom for one of the toughest challengers for I'll Have Another.

Dullahan is flanked by Atigun and Ravelo's Boy, neither of which are expected to be towards the front at the end. Even worse, neither is considered a fast starter, which would at least create some room to navigate.

A poor start could trap the horse in the back of the pack for the duration of the race and ruin any chance it had at a win. 

Here is the full list of the post positions and current odds courtesy of the Belmont Stakes official site:

Post Position	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Morning Line
No. 1	Street Life	C. Brown	J. Lezcano	12-1
No. 2	Unstoppable U	K. McPeek	J. Alvarado	30-1
No. 3	Union Rags	M. Matz	J. Velazquez	6-1
No. 4	Atigun	K. McPeek	J. Leparoux	30-1
No. 5	Dullahan	D. Romans	J. Castellano	5-1
No. 6	Ravelo's Boy	M. Azpurua	A. Solis	50-1
No. 7	Five Sixteen	D. Schettino	R. Napravnik	50-1
No. 8	Guyana Star Dweej	D. Shivmangal	undecided	50-1
No. 9	Paynter	B. Baffert	M. Smith	8-1
No. 10	Optimizer	D. Lukas	C. Nakatani	20-1
No. 11	I'll Have Another	D. O'Neill	M. Gutierrez	4-5
No. 12	My Adonis	K. Breen	R. Dominguez	20-1