Belmont Stakes 2012 Favorites: Bold Predictions for Today's Race

With the 2012 Belmont Stakes Saturday, June 9, the entire horse racing world is trying to deal with the wild events that preceded the annual event.

The news that I’ll Have Another would not be running for his chance at the Triple Crown has ruined much of the momentum the sport gained with the horse's wins at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

While I’ll Have Another won’t win the Triple Crown, there will be plenty of excitement. Do not miss two of the fastest minutes in sports.

Paynter—7/2

With the combination of speed and agility that fits the Belmont Stakes perfectly, Paynter and his trainer Bob Baffert have the inside lane to shock the horse racing world and steal the win.

While this horse may be young and not as experienced as others in the field, the stock he comes from and the trainer he has is enough to put him as the favorite to win the whole race.

In a field of tough horses looking to steal the show, Paynter will walk away the winner.

Union Rags—3/1

The odds-on-favorite for the 2012 Kentucky Derby feel to a disappointing seventh-place finish in the event and didn’t even attend the Preakness. The horse is back at the Belmont, looking to capitalize on the lack of I’ll Have Another.

With 3/1 odds and the past experience of choking when being favored, there is no reason to risk your money on a wager that won’t pay enough to justify the move.

If you’re betting, expect Union Rags to fail miserably.

Optimizer—15/1

My long shot with a chance to win the whole race would be 15/1 Optimizer. With plenty of experience, there is no doubt that Optimizer will be one of the most seasoned horses on the track and not afraid of traffic.

If Optimizer and his jockey can position themselves for a late-run towards the front, there is a chance that the longshot could catapult to the front and pay off huge. It will take a perfect run and some help, but horse racing is unpredictable.

2012 Belmont Stakes Post Positions, Field and Odds

Odds courtesy of Bovada

Post Position	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Morning Line
No. 1	Street Life	C. Brown	J. Lezcano	8-1
No. 2	Unstoppable U	K. McPeek	J. Alvarado	20-1
No. 3	Union Rags	M. Matz	J. Velazquez	3-1
No. 4	Atigun	K. McPeek	J. Leparoux	15-1
No. 5	Dullahan	D. Romans	J. Castellano	9-5
No. 6	Ravelo's Boy	M. Azpurua	A. Solis	30-1
No. 7	Five Sixteen	D. Schettino	R. Napravnik	30-1
No. 8	Guyana Star Dweej	D. Shivmangal	undecided	30-1
No. 9	Paynter	B. Baffert	M. Smith	7-2
No. 10	Optimizer	D. Lukas	C. Nakatani	15-1
No. 11	I'll Have Another	D. O'Neill	M. Gutierrez	OUT
No. 12	My Adonis	K. Breen	R. Dominguez	15-1

Check back for more on horse racing as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s Horse Racing page to get your fill of all things from the ponies.

Follow @Donald_Wood