by Renee Israel
Usually the Belmont Stakes, which is the third leg of the US Triple Crown has
lower attendance and TV viewership than the first two legs, but this things will
be different thanks to the stunning runner, I'll Have Another.
Set for Saturday June 9, 2012 Belmont Stakes betting fans are eager to know if
I'll Have Another, who won this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, has
what it takes to win this race as well, and with it, the honour of being the
first US Triple Crown winner in 34 years.
The last time America had a Triple Crown winner in horse racing was way back in
1978 when Affirmed won all three races. There have been only 11 Triple Crown
winners since 1875 when all three races were run for the first time.
But going even by that ratio, another Triple Crown Winner is long overdue. Since
1978 there have been 11 instances of a horse winning the Kentucky Derby and the
Preakness Stakes, but losing in the Belmont Stakes. However, US horse racing
enthusiasts and betting fans are ever hopeful.
I'll Have Another Started as Underdog
I'll Have Another started as the "underdog" in both the Kentucky Derby and the
Preakness Stakes. In the Kentucky Derby he was the sixth favourite at 12/1 while
in the Preakness Stakes he was the second favourite at 2/1. But in both
instances, he reeled in the top-rated Bodemeister in the end stages to snatch
victories.
But with Bodemeister not entered in the Belmont, I'll Have Another will start no
doubt start as the race favourite, as betting fans from North America and beyond
back the horse in the hope he'll do what no other runner has been able to do in
over three decades
Bodemeister was the favourite in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes,
but with that honour has been shifted to I'll Have Another. In fact, so
confident are many horse racing experts of his chances, that they are of the
view that the only way I'll Have Another can lose the Belmont Stakes is if
something goes wrong.
2012 Belmont Stakes Winner Odds
The Belmont Park racecourse at Elmont in New York has put up a provisional list
of the Belmont Stakes starters along with the Watchmaker odds. The UK licensed
online betting sites - including Ladbrokes - will post their odds after the contenders list is final and the posts are drawn next week. The contenders' list at the time of
writing is as follows.
I'll Have Another - 13/10
Dullahan - 5/1
Union Rags - 5/1
Paynter - 9/1
Street Life - 15/1
Alpha - 15/1
Atigun - 25/1
Unstoppable U - 28/1
Optimizer - 30/1
Five Sixteen - 50/1
Guyana Star Dweej - 50/1
Ravelo's Boy - 50/1
