Belmont Stakes 2015 Contenders: Horse Pedigree and Jockey Info for Top Favorites
The Belmont Stakes is always an intriguing race due to its lengthy 1 ½-mile distance and field consisting of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes contenders, as well as several newcomers to Triple Crown action. This year's race is no different.
American Pharaoh, who headlines the field after winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown, will look to become the first horse in 37 years to achieve the sport's most significant feat. He'll contend with the likes of Kentucky Derby colts Frosted and Materiality, Preakness runner-up Tale of Verve and Triple Crown newcomer Madefromlucky.
One horse no longer in the mix is Kentucky Derby contender Carpe Diem. During an interview with Frank Angst of BloodHorse.com, WinStar Farm president Elliott Walden explained that the horse "wasn't quite 100 percent."
With the field of expected contenders now whittled down to eight horses, let's take a look at the updated odds, pedigree info and jockeys for each.
Belmont Stakes Field Information
| American Pharoah | 4-5 | Pioneerof the Nile | Littleprincessemma | Victor Espinoza |
| Frosted | 5-1 | Tapit | Fast Cookie | Joel Rosario |
| Materiality | 13-2 | Afleet Alex | Wildwood Flower | John R. Velasquez |
| Madefromlucky | 12-1 | Lookin at Lucky | Home From Oz | Javier Castellano |
| Mubtaahij | 16-1 | Dubawi | Pennegale | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
| Tale of Verve | 20-1 | Tale of Ekati | Verve | Gary Stevens |
| Keen Ice | 25-1 | Curlin | Medomak | Kent Desormeaux |
| Frammento | 33-1 | Midshipman | Ginger Bay | Mike Smith |
All Belmont Stakes odds courtesy of Odds Shark.
Top Contenders Information
American Pharoah
This horse doesn't need an introduction at this point. After taking the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby earlier in the year, American Pharoah continued his unbeaten streak by winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He enters Belmont Park looking to make history as the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.
The trio of Pharoah, jockey Victor Espinoza and trainer Bob Baffert has been a winning combination to this point, overcoming unfavorable starting positions and sloppy conditions (in the Preakness) against some very strong fields. Pharoah showed some incredible stamina during the first two legs of the Triple Crown, and Espinoza navigated the horse with perfection.
Since the Preakness, Baffert's experience has come into play, as the trainer is ensuring the horse won't be overworked but will be ready for the Belmont Stakes. According to Baffert's recent interview with Jerry Bossert of the New York Daily News, everything seems to be coming along just fine:
"We're sort of used to running in these big races, so it's not like it's the first time for us. We know that as long as we're prepared and we know what we need to do—that's the whole thing. The only thing that I would get nervous about would be if things aren't going well, but so far everything has been right on schedule. There haven't been any setbacks, no hiccups, so that's the main thing.
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Pharoah is easily the most talented horse in the Belmont field, and if Baffert can get him there with little signs of fatigue, we could very well see the Triple Crown drought come to an end on June 6.
Frosted
Frosted had a difficult start to his 2015 campaign, notching a runner-up finish in the Holy Bull Stakes and a fourth-place showing in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. He finally found his form at Aqueduct, winning the Wood Memorial and earning a place in the Kentucky Derby.
At Churchill Downs, Frosted wasn't able to break from the gate quickly, falling well off the pace early. Although, with about half of a mile remaining, the colt began his charge from the rear of the pack. He showed some phenomenal stamina and finishing ability, catapulting himself to a fourth-place finish.
Frosted isn't known for blazing starts—he also came from behind to win the Wood Memorial—so he'll need another strong late-race push to contend in the Belmont Stakes. Luckily, things appear to be in the colt's favor, as the longer distance and smaller field will be advantageous to his running style.
Materiality
Like Frosted, Materiality had some issues out of the gate in the Kentucky Derby. He wasn't able to get out front early and was forced to settle into a position amid the traffic. Without many options from there, he did his best to navigate through the pack and rallied well enough to notch a sixth-place finish.
Materiality doesn't have as strong of a closing ability as Frosted, but he's been able to start much better in the past. His victory in the Florida Derby was a testament to that, as he displayed some great pace out of the gate and maintained his position out front through the remainder of the race.
If Materiality is to compete down the final stretch at Belmont Park, he'll need a fast start. He's more than capable of giving Pharoah a run for his money down the final stretch, but he must be in a position to do so.
Madefromlucky
Madefromlucky may be a newcomer to the 2015 Triple Crown series, but this won't be his first look at Pharoah. Earlier this year, the colt finished second in the Rebel Stakes and fourth in the Arkansas Derby—two races won by Pharoah. Madefromlucky didn't have the strongest of showings in those appearances, but he was able to get things on track in May.
No stranger to Belmont Park, Madefromlucky won the Peter Pan Stakes after a late rally propelled him past Conquest Curlinate by a length. The colt showed some fine stamina and endurance, angling out wide entering the final stretch to make his late run.
Madefromlucky's biggest advantage in the Belmont Stakes will be his fresh legs. He hasn't raced since the Peter Pan Stakes on May 9, giving him almost one full month of recovery time.
