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

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