Stay Thirsty, Ruler On Ice, Santiva Odds to Win 2011 Belmont Stakes

Stay Thirsty, Ruler On Ice and Brilliant Speed odds to win the 2011 Belmont Stakes were all favorable based on post position draws, but not necessarily when it comes to past performance. 

All three have drawn within the first five post positions, which have won 70 times in just over 100 years racing the Belmont Stakes. 

There is little to suggest Ruler on Ice can pull off the upset based on his past races.   

Stay Thirsty pays 15/1 odds in the number 2 spot.  Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Mike Repole, Stay Thirsty becomes an instant contender by default.  That said, he is yet to have much of an impact in any of the races run. 

"He's as good as he can be coming into the race," Pletcher said this week. "We're hopeful that he can handle the mile-and-a-half distance. We won't know until we try it but his pedigree suggests he could handle it. We're under the radar a bit. There's no pressure so we can just come into it and have fun."

Brilliant Speed, at 10/1 odds, is likely to falter in the dirt.  He did, however, rally from 12th and last to win the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on Keeneland’s synthetic surface on April 16.

BELMONT STAKES FUTURES -  (1 OPEN EVENT)

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com