2011 Belmont Stakes Odds: 5 Long-Shot Bets That Could Really Pay off

The Belmont Stakes has its favorites going into the race every year. Those who won the Preakness and Kentucky Derby would obviously be the favorites, as well as a couple other ones who nearly won.

There are 12 horses in the race, and while most people will place their bets on the obvious favorites in this race, those who are long shots cannot be overlooked. Yes, Animal Kingdom is far more likely to win than Isn't He Perfect, but all horses need to be looked over.

There are a couple horses in this race that strike me as having a very real chance to win, even though the odds against them would say otherwise.

Here are five horses who could surprise everyone, and as a result really pay off on their long-shot odds.

5. Prime Cut

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ELMONT, NY - JUNE 09: Exercise rider Dane Noel rides Prime Cut during a morning training session in preparation for The Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9, 2011 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Despite not racing in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness, Prime Cut has shown solid consistency of late. He finished third in the Peter Pan, and since it takes place at the Belmont he knows this track well.

While there's nothing in his pedigree or anything we've seen to suggest he can go 12 furlongs without any difficulty, he seems to have a nice enough balance of speed and stamina that he should turn some heads at the Belmont with his 15/20-1 odds.

4. Brilliant Speed

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LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 05: Kentucky Derby entrant Brilliant Speed works on the track in preparation for the 137th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Brilliant Speed has not raced since a seventh place finish at the Kentucky Derby, but despite the gap, the horse at 15-1 odds seems to have the makings of pulling an upset.

The horse has shown great talent, winning the Blue Grass race before participating in the Derby. He was kept in the fourth-eighth bunching in the Derby, so there is likely more untapped talent we haven't seen. Now would be an ideal time to let that loose if he has it.

3. Monzon

Monzon is one of the two true long shots in the Belmont, with the other being Isn't He Perfect. Despite enormous odds at 30-1 or over, though, he may be a compelling horse to take a look at.

He has the pedigree to win the Belmont, as his sire Thunder Gulch did just that in 1995. He has struggled to get into the top three recently, but at the same time he is a horse who seems to have a lot of untapped potential. In a less crowded field, he could surprise us all.

2. Ruler on Ice

Ruler on Ice on this list may be surprising, since the horse pulled out of the Preakness and the hardest race he ran was a third place finish at the Arkansas Derby. Nonetheless, the horse has shown great consistency and could surprise the field.

The horse is currently at 20-1 odds, yet he seems to have low expectations, with odds actually being a bit low. I have a gut feeling he will exceed the expectations of the doubters and have a surprisingly good outing.

1. Santiva

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ELMONT, NY - JUNE 10: Exercise rider Brendan Walsh waits to take Santiva for a morning training session in preparation for the 143rd running of The Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 10, 2011 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Santiva's odds are fluctuating in the 12/15-1 range, so this horse is not that much of a long shot compared to others on this list. Nonetheless, Santiva seems to have all the tools necessary to so well at the Belmont.

A sixth place finish in the Kentucky Derby wasn't amazing, but it certainly was not bad. His pedigree suggests he can handle the course length without a problem, and he won't be stuck on the inside rail this time. It's tough not to bet on him as an upset candidate.

If you think Animal Kingdom and company will be fatigued after racing as often as they have, then Santiva is the way to go tomorrow.