Belmont Stakes 2012 Odds: 3 Enticing Dark Horses Nobody Is Talking About

I'll Have Another getting scratched has turned the Belmont Stakes into a wide-open race. Dullahan assumes the role of favorite, but there are a handful of other horses capable of winning the last leg of the Triple Crown as well.

Union Rags and Paynter both figure to find themselves in the mix as their odds would indicate. But let's take a look at a couple long shots with a chance to challenge for the victory. For a complete look at the field, visit the race's official site.

Unstoppable U: 20-1

No horse provides more value in the Belmont than Unstoppable U. He's making his Triple Crown debut and didn't even participate in his first career race until late March. Those two factors make him the ultimate wild card today.

He has won both of his races, with the most recent one coming at Belmont Park, so he should be acclimated to the surface. That victory came back in April, so Unstoppable U should also be well rested having faced a more reasonable schedule.

The main concern would be the fact he's never been in a race longer than eight furlongs. The Belmont is 12 furlongs, but he made the jump from six to eight without an issue, so he's a good sleeper choice.

Atigun: 15-1

Atigun last raced at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day. He wasn't in the marquee event, but he picked up an impressive win on the undercard, which set him up to make the jump to the Belmont after a month off.

That marked his third career victory and came in his first race with Julien Leparoux as his jockey. Leparoux gets the mount once again today and clearly knows what it takes to guide the underrated horse into the winner's circle.

Another factor working in his favor is post position. He'll start from gate No. 4, which should be an ideal starting spot with a race of 11 horses. Don't count him out.

My Adonis: 15-1

My Adonis hasn't won a race since last October, which will likely cause most people to overlook him. However, it's important to note that he's raced a really tough schedule. That should ensure he's battle-tested for the Belmont.

He has also taken part in six races of more than one mile, so the distance shouldn't be as much of an issue as it will be for some other long shots. With him, the key is looking beyond the simple results and seeing what he's faced.

Since My Adonis hasn't generated much mainstream hype to this point, his odds might get even better before post time. He's definitely a horse to keep in mind for exotic picks.