Belmont Stakes 2012 Post Positions: Where My Adonis and Longshots Will Start

Unlike the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes is a great time for a longshot to pull an upset.

With a longer track and a smaller field of competitors, the final leg of the Triple Crown offers lesser-known horses a chance to show their speed in open space. In addition, the primary competitors from the Kentucky Derby and Preakness usually have either dropped out or are fatigued from the intense schedule.

Over the past four years, the Belmont winner has been a longshot every time, giving gamblers at least 10 times their original bet.

For this to happen again, one of these horses needs to get good position and finish strong.

2. Unstoppable U (20-1)

Although relatively unknown, Unstoppable U has already had success at the Belmont track with a win a month-and-a-half ago. He also won his only other career race at Aqueduct.

This horse is a very fast starter and will push the pace early. If he does not run out of steam, he could find himself in the winner's circle.

4. Atigun (15-1)

Like Unstoppable U, Atigun is trained by Kenneth McPeek. He will not come out as fast, but Atigun has more experience and will be able to keep a solid pace throughout the race. 

A relatively inside post should also help as it attempts to pull the modest upset.

6. Ravelo's Boy (30-1)

Trainer Manny Azpurua believes that his horse will be better at the Belmont than any other track due to the length. He told the Daily Racing Forum, “I think the distance will help him. I’ve said all along the further he goes the better, and his mare has thrown a lot of horses who go long.”

Without much success on short tracks, he better hope so.

7. Five Sixteen (30-1)

A slow starter and worse finisher, the 30-1 odds might not be high enough for this longshot. Only one win in six races is not too impressive.

8. Guyana Star Gweej (30-1)

This horse does not have a long history of winning, but has placed second in five of nine career starts. Even if the top spot remains out of sight, do not count out Guyana Star Gweej from finishing in the top three spots.

10. Optimizer (15-1)

Optimizer will be the only competitor from the Preakness field to be in this race, but was only able to finish in sixth. The fatigue will likely get to him after a tough schedule over the past month.

Still, this team does not want to come up empty in the three most famous events on the calendar. 

12. My Adonis (15-1)

If it were not for a terrible post spot, My Adonis would be a solid pick as a longshot. Unfortunately, only one horse has ever won from the No. 12 post at Belmont: Sarava in 2002.

On a long track like this one, My Adonis will have to work too hard to stay with the pack at the beginning, and he will likely run out of gas by the last turn. 

Here is the full list of competitors by post position courtesy of BelmontStakes.com:

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Morning Line
	Street Life	C. Brown	J. Lezcano	8-1
	Unstoppable U	K. McPeek	J. Alvarado	20-1
	Union Rags	M. Matz	J. Velazquez	3-1
	Atigun	K. McPeek	J. Leparoux	15-1
	Dullahan	D. Romans	J. Castellano	9-5
	Ravelo's Boy	M. Azpurua	A. Solis	30-1
	Five Sixteen	D. Schettino	R. Napravnik	30-1
	Guyana Star Dweej	D. Shivmangal	K. Desormeaux	30-1
	Paynter	B. Baffert	M. Smith	7-2
	Optimizer	D. Lukas	C. Nakatani	15-1
	I'll Have Another - Scratched	D. O'Neill	M. Gutierrez	-
	My Adonis	K. Breen	R. Dominguez	15-1