I'll Have Another Scratched: Breaking Down New Top Contenders at Belmont

With I'll Have Another missing the 2012 Belmont Stakes due to injury, the door has opened for a few other top contenders to snatch one of the most coveted titles in horse racing.

While the sport as a whole will be worse off because of I'll Have Another's absence, 11 horses and their jockeys, trainers and owners now have improved odds in the historic third jewel of the Triple Crown.

It's nearly impossible to pick the results of this grueling one-and-a-half mile race, but these three horses will surely be in contention late.

Dullahan

Dullahan is the prime beneficiary of I'll Have Another's injury. The Dale Romans-trained horse is the new favorite at the Belmont, currently sitting at 9-5 odds.

That seems fair, considering he has already won one race this year (Blue Grass Stakes) and finished third at the Kentucky Derby.

He should also be well rested after skipping the Preakness and he will be starting in Post 5, which has produced the second-most Belmont champions since 1970.

Union Rags

Union Rags is now the second favorite behind Dullahan, with oddsmakers listing him at 3-1. This is an interesting coincidence, as he was also favored second at the Kentucky Derby.

He was unspectacular in that race, finishing in a respectable but disappointing seventh place. Union Rags has four career victories, though, and other than the Derby, he's never finished worse than third.

Like Dullahan, he also skipped the Preakness, so he should be fresh in tonight's race.

Paynter

The Bob Baffert-trained horse Paynter will get to run in the Belmont, as Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Bodemeister will be sitting this one out.

Like Bodemeister, Paynter is a talented horse who is capable of hanging with the best in the field. He has finished fourth or better in four career races, and he won his last competition in April.

He'll also be starting from the ninth slot, which has been home to three Belmont winners (Victory Gallop, Point Given, Afleet Alex) in the last 14 years.

At 7-2 odds, Paynter is a solid bet tonight.