Belmont Stakes 2012: 3 Dark Horses You Should Be Watching

With news breaking late this week that Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I'll Have Another has been scratched from running in the Belmont and thus ending his chance at a triple crown bid, the field is wide open for the remaining horses.

With I'll Have Another out, Dullahan (5-1), the third place finisher at the Preakness, and Union Rags (6-1) figure to be the the new favorites. But picking the favorites is never fun. There's nothing sexy about picking the horse that's "supposed to win." With this frame of mind, let's look at some of the rest of the horses in the field and see who might surprise at the Belmont.

Paynter (7-2)

Paynter didn't run at the Preakness or the Derby, so he comes into the race more rested than favorites Dullahan and Union Rags, both of whom ran in Kentucky five weeks ago. Paynter is trained by Bob Baffert, who also trains Bodemeister, the second place finisher at the Preakness and the Derby. Baffert has gone on record saying that Belmont's mile and a half course is more suited towards Paynter's strengths than Bodemeister's.

Atigun (15-1)

The first thing to love about this horse is the people in charge. Trainer Ken McPeek helped Sarava end War Emblem's triple crown bid at Belmont in 2002. Owner Ed Anthony also owned Temperence Hill, another long shot that won at Belmont. Atigun also did not run at the Derby or Preakness, so you'd expect him to be well rested for the Belmont.

True Dark Horse: Unstoppable U (20-1)

Most experts like to see a track record with a horse. Even some middle-of-the-pack finishes give people an idea of how a horse runs, whether they are a short track/long track racer, etc.

Unstoppable U has very little race experience; two races to be exact. He's won both, although against lesser competition in 6 and 8 furlong races—but he's still won. The horse is also trained by the aforementioned McPeek.

Unstoppable U is the wild-card of the race. The colt could come out and finish dead-last, or show he can also handle the long courses and surprise the field.