Belmont Stakes 2012 Odds: Last Minute Info for Betting

The 2012 Belmont Stakes is just hours away and the last minute betting flurry has already begun.

The post time for the 144^th Belmont Stakes is 6:40 p.m. ET, as noted on BelmontStakes.com.

Now that I’ll Have Another has been scratched, the field is wide open.

Here are five intriguing contenders, and everything you need to know about betting on them.

Dullahan: 9-5

This colt is the new favorite after the shocking news regarding I’ll Have Another.

Dullahan finished third in the Kentucky Derby behind I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister. It ran a fantastic race and has had time to rest and prepare for the long Belmont track since its surprising Derby finish. 

This horse is the favorite for good reason and it offers the safest bet to win.

Union Rags: 3-1

This horse’s talent does not match up with its performance at the Kentucky Derby.

That is worrisome for those looking to bet on Union Rags to win. Owner Phyllis Wyeth said, "We still feel Union Rags hasn’t been able to really run his race as a 3-year-old," via Alice Wincze Hughes of the Boston Herald.

Don’t count on this happening at Belmont Park this afternoon, and I would stay away from picking Union Rags to win.

Paynter: 7-2

This horse is trained by Bob Baffert and jockeyed by Mike Smith, so its team will be sure to coax every ounce of speed out of the thoroughbred.

Paynter may not be as talented as Baffert’s other horse, Bodemeister, but still has an excellent shot at victory. 

For those who are unconvinced by Dullahan, this horse is the second-best choice for a winning pick. 

Street Life: 8-1

This horse has the fourth-best odds in the race and finished third in its last start, which was the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park, as noted by the Houston Chronicle.

The most concerning part about betting on this horse is its extremely unlucky draw. Starting in the No. 1 post puts Street Life at a disadvantage.

But it is not impossible to win from the inside of the track, and this is not a terrible pick. Still, it is unlikely that Street Life will cross the finish line in first.

Guyana Star Dweej: 30-1

If there is one horse to avoid under all circumstances, it is Guyana Star Dweej. 

Not only is it one of the horses with the worst odds in the race, but troubled jockey Kent Desormeaux will ride the thoroughbred.

After Desormeaux’s tumultuous Triple Crown season, it seems impossible that he will have the focus necessary to coax even a decent performance out of Guyana Star Dweej.