Union Rags edged Paynter in a photo finish to win the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

After I’ll Have Another was scratched from the race ending his Triple Crown bid, Union Rags (5/2) went off as the co-favorite in the race with Dullahan, who finished a disappointing seventh.

The Bob Baffert trained Paynter led most of the race before losing the lead as he got clipped by a nose at the finish line. It marks three straight second place finishes in Triple Crown races for Baffert, who saw Bodemesiter just miss against I’ll Have Another in the both Kentucky Derby and Prekness Stakes.

Trainer Michael Matz decided to hold Union Rags out of the Preakness Stakes and replace Julien Leparoux with John Velazquez as the jockey for the Belmont. The move paid dividends as Velazquez is the most experienced jockey at Belmont.  He rode Union Rags to victory in 2:30:42.

ORDER OF FINISH
1. Union Rags
2. Paynter
3. Atigun
4. Street Life
5. Five Sixteen
6. Unstoppable U
7. Dullahan
8. My Adonis
9. Ravelo’s Boy
10. Optimizer
11. Guyana Star Dweej

PAYOUTS
3  Union Rags 7.50 4.20     3.40
9  Paynter  5.10 3.90
4  Atigun  10.60

$1 DAILY DOUBLE Paid: $24.20  4-3
$1 EXACTA Paid: $15.70  3-9
$1 PICK 3 Paid: $96.00  6-4-3
$1 PICK 4 Paid: $641.50  1-6-4-3
$1 PICK 6 Paid: $106.00  6-7-1-6-4-3
$1 SUPERFECTA Paid: $953.00  3-9-4-1
$1 TRIFECTA Paid: $248.00  3-9-4

Horse Racing triple crown, belmont stakes 144, union rags, paynter, dullahan

As disappointed as I was to see I’ll Have Another scratched from the race, it did remove my biasness in handicapping the race as I no longer have the rooting interest of the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years in my mind.

With that said, here’s my adjusted game plan for the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes:

THE FAVORITES
#5 Dullahan (9/5) – The distance has never been the question with Dullahan. I liked him before the scratch to win the race and I like him even more now.  He should be able to save ground in this race by keeping closer to the front and cost him to rally from 11th in the Kentucky Derby. The time off since then will only help his chances.  He comes in with fresh legs and a proven track record. Most of his success has come on the synthetics, but there’s enough support for his performance on dirt to overlook it.

#3 Union Rags (5/2) – The horse had all the hype coming into the Triple Crown season and his success cannot be ignored. He didn’t fire on Derby day and took five weeks off here. However, his bloodlines don’t suggest he’s bred to go the distance. With such high odds surrounding him it’s hard for me to get too excited.

#9 Paynter (4/1) – He lacks the experience, but he is the only horse in the race with a Beyer Speed of 100, which he did twice. The colt is much better than when he ran in the Santa Anita Derby a couple of months ago.

VALUE HORSES
#1 Street Life (6/1) - Has the closing ability to be a factor in such a long race and has had success at Belmont

#12 My Adonis (15/1) – He definitely warrants consideration on the back end of exotics.

#4 Atigun (15/1) – He’s easily my favorite longshot of the race. He finished second in the Arkansas Derby and could figure into some exotics.

#10 Optimizer (20/1) – The horse is going in the opposite direction seemingly, but it would not surprise me to see him pull something out of his hat.

MY BETS
It’s hard to find great value in the race with it being so top heavy, but I will try to make the best use of each dollar budgeted (total wagered - $56)

$20 EX Box: 5-9
$2 TRI wheel : 5/3,9/1,3,4,9,10

Horse Racing belmont stakes 144, belmont picks, belmont predictions

from DRF.com...

l'll Have Another will scratch from Saturday’s Belmont Stakes due to developing tendonitis in his left foreleg, trainer Doug O’Neill said Friday.

“He’s got tendonitis in his left front tendon,” O’Neill said. “He’s not 100 percent and I ain’t taking any chances.”

O’Neill said that I’ll Have Another will be out for the remainder of the year and that his connections will huddle later in the year to decide whether to retire him or not.

COMPLETE STORY (DRF.com)

Horse Racing triple crown, i'll have another, belmont stakes 144

The post positions have been drawn for Saturday's Belmont Stakes. I'll Have Another was scratched from the race on Friday due to injury:

$1 Million Belmont Stakes (gr. I, Race 11,  6:40 p.m.), 3YOs, 1 1/2 Miles
 
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, ML
1. Street Life, Jose Lezcano, Chad Brown, 12-1

2. Unstoppable U, Junior Alvarado, Ken McPeek, 30-1

3. Union Rags, John Velazquez, Michael Matz, 6-1

4. Atigun, Julien Leparoux, Ken McPeek, 30-1

5. Dullahan, Javier Castellano, Dale Romans, 5-1

6. Ravelo's Boy, Alex Solis, Manuel Azpurua, 50-1

7. Five Sixteen, Rosie Napravnik, Dominick Schettino, 50-1

8. Guyana Star Dweej, Kent Desormeaux, Doodnauth Shivmangal, 50-1

9. Paynter, Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 8-1

10. Optimizer, Corey Nakatani, D. Wayne Lukas, 20

11. I'll Have Another, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O'Neill, 4-5 - SCRATCHED

12. My Adonis, Ramon Dominguez, Kelly Breen, 20-1

Horse Racing triple crown, i'll have another, belmont stakes 144, dullahan, union rags

Though the official field won't be set until next week for the 2012 Belmont Stakes, the list of contenders to challenge Kentucky Derby-Preakness Stakes winner I'll Have Another on June 9th is taking shape. Here's DRF.com's projected field as of today for the 144th running of the Belmont:

2012 Belmont Stakes possible starters

Horse Racing belmont stakes, belmont stakes 144, i'll have another, dullahan, union rags