Belmont Stakes 2012: Top Contenders That Will Struggle out of the Gates

I'll Have Another might have scratched, but the Belmont Stakes will still be a highly competitive race. However, a few top contenders must be careful when the race begins.

The post position is not as important in this longer race as it is for the Kentucky Derby or Preakness, but the starting spot still can affect how the horses perform.

Since 1905, 23 horses have won from the inside post, 10 more than any other spot. This year at the Belmont track, 18.3 percent of all winners came from the No. 1 post, easily the highest amount.

But between bad positions and slow starts, a few horses trying to leave with a victory will lose that opportunity in the first few seconds.

My Adonis

The owners of last year's Belmont winner, Ruler on Ice, return with a late addition to the 2012 race. Unfortunately, the draw of the No. 12 post might be enough to keep My Adonis towards the back of the pack.

Only one horse, Sarava in 2002, has ever won from a post this far away. This track is already very long, and the extra amount needed to catch up at the beginning will be too much to overcome.

Dullahan

As the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, Dullahan will be the presumed favorite with I'll Have Another out of the race.

The horse is a good finisher, and he can do well with the long track, but he is not known to start well.

He will start the race with long shots on either side, some of which are not as quick starters. This could hurt if the slower horses box in the favorite in the beginning as the pace becomes slow. 

With only 11 horses in the race, Dullahan should find his way towards the front, but a bad start could spell doom for his Belmont chances.

Union Rags

Like Dullahan, Union Rags might get in trouble by the horses surrounding him in the post.

Trainer Kenneth McPeek has two horses in the race starting on either side of Union Rags, Unstoppable U and Atigun. Each of these horses are fast starters that will help lead the pace around the first turn.

Jockey John Velazquez needs to not get caught up at the front early and have his horse run out of steam late in this long race. If he struggles out of the gate, it might be the best long-term scenario for this contender.