Belmont Results 2012: Union Rags Wins With Thrilling Finish Down The Stretch

Despite the fact that there was no historic Triple Crown moment on the line due to the late scratch of I'll Have Another, the 2012 Belmont Stakes still managed to provide a thrilling race. Union Rags emerged from the middle of the pack to pass Paynter down the stretch and win the race. Atigun finished in third, but it was the photo finish between Union Rags and Paynter that stole the moment.

Paynter led for nearly the entire race and appeared poised to give trainer Bob Baffert something to celebrate, after Bodemeister finished in second place in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. However, it was not meant to be, as Union Rags broke away from the pack of horses and made an impressive push down the stretch to narrowly edge out Paynter at the finish line.

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2012 Belmont Stakes: Post Positions, Start Time, Latest Odds And More

The legs of horses are very fragile things, and the legs of Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another were supporting the weight of nothing less than the entire sport. But with the horses handlers pulling her out of Saturday's Belmont Stakes, what was slated to be one of the most anticipated races in history has become just another horse race. Fighting for the purse now will be updated favorites Paynter and Dullahan, along with nine other horses who just saw their chances of victory greatly increased.

Here are post positions and odds for today's race:

1. Street Life, 8/1
2. Unstoppable U, 20/1
3. Union Rags, 3/1
4. Atigun, 15/1
5. Dullahan, 9/5
6. Ravelo's Boy, 30/1
7. Five Sixteen, 30/1
8. Guyana Star Dweej, 30/1
9. Paynter, 7/2
10. Optimizer, 15/1
11. I'll Have Another
12. My Adonis, 15/1

Race date/post time: Saturday, June 9, 4:30 p.m. MT

Race location: Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y.

TV: NBC

Streaming: belmontstakes.com

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2012 Belmont Stakes: I'll Have Another Scratched, Will Miss On Potential Triple Crown Victory

I'll Have Another has been scratched from the 2012 Belmont Stakes after an issue arose on Friday morning. The horse's trainer, Doug O'Neill, announced the move on the Dan Patrick Show:

Doug O'Neill: "I'll Have Another is officially out of the Belmont."

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) June 8, 2012

I'll Have Another was in pursuit of the first Triple Crown victory since Affirmed won it in 1987, having won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in May. For the 34th consecutive year, no horse has won the Triple Crown.

A press conference will be held at 11 a.m. MT to address what has happened to I'll Have Another. Whatever the issue is, it is better to play it safe with the horse rather than risking further injury. While this is disappointing news, the horse's health and safety should come first.

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Belmont Stakes 2012: I'll Have Another Lands 11th Post Position

The drawing of post positions for the 2012 Belmont Stakes went down on Wednesday, and I'll Have Another has landed the 11th post position among the 12 horses. Looking to win the first Triple Crown since 1978, I'll Have Another didn't get any favors in the post position drawing, as there's only one horse starting further away from the rail.

While post position isn't considered as important in the Belmont as it is in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness races given Belmont's greater length, jockeys obviously will take any advantage that they can get. In beginning so far away from the rail, I'll Have Another's run at the Triple Crown just got a bit more difficult.

Here is the full list of the post positions:

1. Street Life
2. Unstoppable U
3. Union Rags
4. Atigun
5. Dullahan
6. Ravelo's Boy
7. Five Sixteen
8. Guyana Star Dweej
9. Paynter
10. Optimizer
    
11. I'll Have Another
12. My Adonis

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Belmont Stakes 2012: I'll Have Another Catching Attention Of MLB's Dodgers, Orioles and Yankees

I'll Have Another has an opportunity to become the first Triple Crown Winner since Affirmed in 1978, and the situation is generating plenty of buzz, even in Major League Baseball. Jockey Mario Gutierrez recently threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, and head trainer Doug O'Neill did the same at a Baltimore Orioles game, but now the New York Yankees have invited O'Neill, Gutierrez and owner Paul Reddam to throw out the first pitch at a game between the New York Yankees and New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on Friday, June 8, according to an Associated Press report.

As for I'll Take Another, there is an interesting story on his morning routine worth checking out, if only to catch a glimpse at how far trainers and owners are willing to go in order to make a prize horse comfortable.

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Belmont Stakes 2012: I'll Have Another's Trainer Faces Drug Allegations

Not everything in the life of I'll Have Another Trainer Doug O'Neill is perfect. Amidst the biggest and best moment of his professional career, O'Neill is facing a potential fine or suspension stemming from an allegation by the California Horse Racing Board that he has drugged horses in the past, most recently in August of 2010. The Board says that on Aug. 25, 2010, Argenta, a horse trained by O'Neill, tested positive for elevated levels of TCO2.

TCO2 is a mixture of soda carbonate, sugars and electrolytes, a blend that is known as a "milkshake" in horse racing parlance. Though it's almost certain that O'Neill will not be penalized before the 2012 Belmont Stakes, the allegations and looming penalties are a dark cloud looming in the distance.

O'Neill, who has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the board, denies the allegations:

"I swear on my kids' eyes I never milkshaked a horse," O'Neill said nine days before the Preakness. "We had some people in charge of California racing I think didn't like a few of us that were doing well. Anyway, it's all being heard by the courts and I'm very confident everything will be fine."

(via SI.com)

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Triple Crown 2012: I'll Have Another Will Go For Elusive Title Without Bodemeister At Belmont Stakes

When the gates open for the running of the Belmont Stakes on June 9, I'll Have Another will miss one of the major obstacles to winning the Triple Crown of horse racing: Bodemeister. The horse, who has finished second to I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby and in the Preakness Stakes, will sit out the Belmont, a plan trainer Bob Baffert has had all along.

There have been just 11 Triple Crown winners and none since 1978. Affirmed swept the races that year, just one year after Seattle Slew also pulled off the feat. Secretariat took the Triple Crown in 1973, which ended a 25-year drought that started with Citation's Triple Crown victory in 1948.

The last time one horse won the first two legs of the Triple Crown came in 2008 when Big Brown pulled it off. However, Da' Tara grabbed the victory at Belmont.

Can I'll Have Another end a 34-year drought?

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