Belmont Stakes 2012 Lineup: Complete Race Day Guide for 3rd Leg of Triple Crown

The post positions are set, the horses are ready and the bets are flowing.

We are just one day away from the the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. And there couldn't be any more excitement buzzing around in the air as I'll Have Another goes for the Triple Crown.

If I'll Have Another wins on Saturday, he'll become the first horse to have won the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. I'll Have Another isn't a fluke, either. He came from behind to win down the stretch against Bob Baffert's Bodemeister in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.

The 144th Belmont Stakes will be aired on NBC Sports at 4:30 p.m. ET. The pre-race show will begin at 3 p.m. ET.

Here's a breakdown of the 2012 Belmont Stakes.

Post Position

You can't talk about a race without talking about post position. 

Since 2002, the No. 4 post has won twice. 

Six post positions have placed three times: No. 2, No. 4, No. 5, No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9 (excluding 2003 and 2007, which had much smaller fields). 

The No. 6 post position has placed twice.

Four post positions have placed once: No. 1, No. 3, No. 11 and No. 12.

1. Street Life

2. Unstoppable U

3. Union Rags

4. Atigun

5. Dullahan

6. Ravelo's Boy

7. Five Sixteen

8. Guyana Star Dweej

9. Paynter

10. Optimizer

11. I'll Have Another

12. My Adonis

Horses To Watch

3. Paynter

Paynter has the chance to "paynt" an ugly picture for I'll Have Another at the Belmont Stakes. A Bob Baffert horse, Paynter is just beginning to realize his potential, with a fourth-place finish at the Santa Anita Derby in April and a victory at the Pimlico allowance on May 19. He's fast and bred to go the distance. Paynter is a big-time sleeper pick. 

2. Dullahan

Dullahan not only won the Blue Grass Stakes this year, he also placed third at the Kentucky Derby and second at the Palm Beach Stakes. He's a very consistent horse, placing in seven of his nine career starts. He also has the No. 5 post position, which has been historically favorable in the Belmont Stakes.

1. I'll Have Another

The No. 11 post has only placed once in the past 10 years, but that shouldn't detract bettors. The type of horse is more important than post position at the Belmont Stakes. I'll Have Another is a strong workhorse who has exerted his dominance down the stretch in races this year. He has the makings of a horse suited for the Triple Crown's longest race.

Contenders Who Should Be Worried

3. Union Rags

It wasn't off-base to call Union Rags the favorite at the time of the Kentucky Derby, since he won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and placed third at the Florida Derby. However, Union Rags' seventh-place finish was very disappointing, and the Belmont Stakes is longer than the Derby. This is still a relatively strong horse compared to most of the field, but I don't think he has enough for a win. He's also in the No. 3 post, which has placed just once in the past 10 years (excluding 2007).

2. Street Life

Street Life has two victories and a third-place finish at the Peter Pan Stakes, so he's a sleeper, but I don't think he ultimately has enough to shock the world. The Peter Pan Stakes had a quick pace in general, which I think benefited him. You need to be much stronger to place at the lengthy Belmont Stakes. He's also been slapped with the No. 1 post position, which isn't exactly ideal.

1. My Adonis

My Adonis isn't exactly a top contender, but this isn't that deep of a field, either. He has placed in three of his four races this year, and those were Stakes races. Unfortunately, he has a horrible position at No. 12, on the far outside, and it's hard to imagine him making his way inside against some of the prime contenders.

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