A field of 12 will face the starter in the 144th running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes (G1) on Saturday June 8, the final leg of the Triple Crown. Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another drew post 11 and is the 4-5 favorite on the morning line for his bid to become the 12th ever Triple Crown winner. Back for a rematch is Kentucky Derby third place finisher Dullahan, who drew post 5 and is the second choice at 5-1. Also back from the Kentucky Derby is Union Rags who will break from post 3 at odds of 6-1.
The final leg of the Triple Crown will be the Belmont Stakes on June 9th and for the first time since 2008 we have a chance at a new Triple Crown winner with I'll Have Another. A few other veterans of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness will be there, although Bodemeister will be sitting this one out, and there are some new shooters joining the party as well.
The Belmont Stakes will be the 11th of 13 races going off at 6:40pm ET and will be telecast nationally on NBC from 4:30-7:00pm, with coverage of the undercard on NBC Sports Network from 3-4:30pm. NBC Sports Network will also carry post-race coverage from 7-7:30pm. Be sure to click the link on each horse's name to view full info, stats, and a photo. Free past performances are available from Daily Racing Form.
Update: Sadly, we will not get to see I'll Have Another try to become the 12th Triple Crown winner tomorrow in the Belmont Stakes. According to his owner, he had some heat in one of his legs yesterday and after he jogged today they did a scan and found a tendon injury that will keep him on the sidelines. The morning line has been adjusted now after the scratch.
Triple Crown quick links:
- Analyzing the Belmont Stakes Contenders - My annual analysis using popular angles and statistical trends to see who best matches the profile of a Belmont winner. It is no surprise that I'll Have Another came out on top, but who was second may be a shock.
- Belmont Contender Past Performances - free from Daily Racing Form
- Preakness Results and Photos - I'll Have Another wins again
- Kentucky Derby Results and Photos - I'll Have Another wins
- Belmont Weather Forecasts
- Triple Crown winners and near misses - Only 11 have won the Triple Crown, but 20 have won the Derby and Preakness only to fail in the Belmont.
- Past Belmont Stakes winners - with their connections, odds, winning time, etc.
- Belmont Media Guide - for 2012 from NYRA in PDF format. Includes all kinds of interesting stats plus charts for all the previous runnings.
- Belmont Stakes Traditions - from white carnations to the Belmont Breeze
- Belmont Stakes 101 - an overview of the Belmont Stakes from history to handicapping to how to attend.
- Fillies in the Belmont Stakes - only three fillies have won out of 22 entered, the last being Rags to Riches in 2007.
- Belmont Stakes official site - lots of news, stats, and other info
- Belmont Stakes Ticket Info - has 2012 the Belmont Stakes ticket applications and locations. Prices and seating diagram are in the application. Currently sold out except for standing room only.
- Blood Horse Triple Crown Mania
- Thoroughbred Times Road to the Triple Crown
- DRF Belmont Special
- New York Times Sports - will have Belmont coverage mixed in on the "Other Sports" page
- New York Post Horse Racing Section - should have some articles, also has a link to a Bettors Guide with picks.
- Belmont Stakes Videos - Lots of video clips of past Belmonts in the History section including most of the Triple Crown winners
- Triple Crown Trivia Quiz - test your knowledge of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont and compete with others
- Belmont Stakes Info Central - the master index with even more stuff
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Dosage | Jockey | M/L Odds |
| 1 | Street Life | Chad Brown | 3.00 | Jose Lezcano | 8-1 |
| 2 | Unstoppable U | Ken McPeek | 3.00 | Junior Alvarado | 20-1 |
| 3 | Union Rags | Michael Matz | 2.14 * | John Velazquez | 3-1 |
| 4 | Atigun | Ken McPeek | 2.33 | Julien Leparoux | 15-1 |
| 5 | Dullahan | Dale Romans | 4.20 | Javier Castellano | 9-5 |
| 6 | Ravelo's Boy | Manuel Azpurua | 3.00 | Alex Solis | 30-1 |
| 7 | Five Sixteen | Dominick Schettino | 2.33 | Rosie Napravnik | 30-1 |
| 8 | Guyana Star Dweej | Doodnauth Shivmangal | 3.00 | Kent Desormeaux | 30-1 |
| 9 | Paynter | Bob Baffert | 2.50 | Mike Smith | 7-2 |
| 10 | Optimizer | D. Wayne Lukas | 3.24 | Corey Nakatani | 15-1 |
| scratched | I'll Have Another | Doug O'Neill | 2.11 | Mario Gutierrez | scratched |
| 12 | My Adonis | Kelly Breen | 2.67 | Ramon Dominguez | 15-1 |
