Belmont Stakes Picks: What the Experts Are Saying About Triple Crown Event

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the Belmont Stakes, but who do the experts believe will win?

As of Thursday, most would have undoubtedly picked I'll Have Another. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness champ was attempting to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown.

Unfortunately, the favorite was scratched due to a swollen tendon.

The race will go on, and the field is now wide open.

One horse that is gaining a lot of recent support from experts is Paynter. Bob Baffert, the trainer of both Paynter and Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Bodemeister, believes the latest horse is the fastest of the two.

Owner Ahmed Zayat told the Detroit Free Press that Baffert "thought Paynter was the better horse. He thinks he's a really, really nice horse."

However, it is not just those with a bias that believe in the colt. Racing expert Jerry Brown told the New York Post, "He’s fast enough, he’s good enough to win and he’s fresh."

Brown also believes in Dullahan, the new favorite of the field.

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If he’s ready to run his race, the question then becomes whether he is good enough. I think he’s 50-50 to run better than he has to date, he will certainly run as good as he ever has before, He’s fresh, he’s going the right way, I like him in this race and for the rest of the year.

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Joe Drape of the New York Times, never thought that I'll Have Another would break the Triple Crown streak.

Before the favorite was scratched, Drape did not even have him finishing in the top three. Instead, the racing analyst chose Union Rags, one of the favorites from the Kentucky Derby. He believes the addition of former Belmont champ John Velazquez at jockey will make the difference.

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Union Rags needs clear sailing and ample ground to reach maximum cruising speed. He will get both and will be running like a locomotive down the stretch. He’ll blow by the front-running Paynter, who will try to lead the field from gate to wire, just like his stablemate Bodemeister nearly did at Churchill Downs and Pimlico.

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While the interest in the race might go down without I'll Have Another, the quality of the contenders does not drop too much. 

Any of these horses have the ability to be the first through the finish line, and that will keep this race as exciting as ever.