The 2012 Belmont Stakes received a major blow today as I’ll Have Another, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, winner was scratched from the race due to a swollen tendon in its left front leg. With the Flower Alley sired colt out of the running, book makers moved to make third place Derby finisher Dullahan the new favorite. Updated 2012 Belmont Stakes Horse Racing Odds have the Dale Romans’ trained colt listed as a +180 moneyline favorite to win Saturday’s 1 1/2 mile race. Union Rags, another Derby runner, is a second pick at +300 odds.
Those pining for another Triple Crown winner will have to wait at least one more year. Disappointment may not adequately describe the feelings of the horse racing community after it was announced earlier today that I’ll Have Another, a +125 favorite to win the Belmont Stakes, would not participate in the third and final leg of the Triple Crown Series. The Doug O’Neill protege was scratched from the race with a swollen tendon, eliminating the possibility of the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 as well as the possibility of an upset victory.
Now Dullahan, who also produced his own impressive late charge at Churchill Downs just over a month ago, will look to reward Romans with his second Triple Crown win in the last two years. Romans trained 2011 Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford; the colt went on to finish sixth at the Belmont Stakes after starting from the far outside post (12).
With I’ll Have Another out of the field, Dullahan’s biggest competition is expected to come from Union Rags (+300), Paynter (+500), and Street Life (+800). Union Rags, along with Bodemeister, was favored to win the 2012 Kentucky Derby but ended up a distant seventh in the Run for the Roses.
Neither Paynter nor Street Life participated in the Derby or Preakness Stakes, but both colts have speed and distance pedigrees. Street life comes from 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense while Paynter was sired by multiple Grade 1 stakes (1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic, 1998 Whitney Handicap) winner Awesome Again.
Coverage of Saturday’s race is scheduled to begin at 4:30pm ET on NBC.
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2012 Belmont Stakes Odds: Dullahan Favored, I’ll Have Another Scratched
Dullahan +180
Union Rags +300
Paynter +500
Street Life +800
Optimizer +1500
My Adonis +1500
Atigun +2000
Unstoppable U +2000
Five Sixteen +4000
Guyana Star Dweej +4000
Ravelos Boy +4000
