Belmont Stakes 2013: Underrated Challengers to Watch Closely

The 2013 Belmont Stakes are closing in fast, and it's going to be one exciting competition.

But with so much attention focused around Orb and Oxbow, the rest of the field can go rather overlooked.

Belmont's list of possible contenders—courtesy of HorseRacingNation.com—also sees other challengers such as Revolutionary and Overanalyze ranked near the top with the winners from the Triple Crown's first two legs.

As a result, that puts the following potential competitors off the radar. But it's not necessarily a bad thing to be underrated, either.

Mylute

After taking fifth place at the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness Stakes, Mylute definitely showed off the necessary talent to contest the top contenders.

Still, the stamina will be tough, as was on display at Churchill Downs. Provided jockey Rosie Napravnik gets out to a quicker start, though, Mylute's chances increase as the race unfolds.

Plus, Napravnik's finishes through the first two legs are the best by a female in history, per Yahoo! Sports via the Associated Press. With the kick to make a strong comeback down the stretch, Mylute is capable of bolting to victory at Belmont. 

Golden Soul

Golden Soul was the runner-up in Kentucky but did not compete at the Preakness.

Although that's a while since his last race, Golden Soul possesses the explosiveness and stamina to win at Belmont. Also, the sloppy conditions of Churchill Downs played a factor in that result.

The longer track in New York will allow him to pull away well before the final turn. Regardless of the conditions, Golden Soul's stride down the stretch is a competitive advantage. It's a matter of creating that critical distance to get in a favorable position.

Power Broker

Along with placing fifth at the Santa Anita Derby, Power Broker followed that up with a victory in an allowance feature at Churchill Downs on May 10.

If anything, that simply helps with confidence and momentum for the Triple Crown's third leg.

Obviously, Power Broker's big race experience is limited. However, he has lined up against elitists such as Goldencents, who won the Santa Anita Derby.

Minimal exposure to top competition and big races certainly decreases his odds. Nevertheless, the potential exists to make noise on a grand stage.