Belmont Stakes 2015: American Pharoah Faces Tough Road to Triple Crown

American Pharoah heads into the 2015 Belmont Stakes with plenty of momentum off a seven-length victory at the Preakness Stakes. This is the second year in a row jockey Victor Espinoza will have a chance at the Triple Crown, but Belmont Park presents a tremendous challenge.

The 1.5-mile track in Elmont, New York, will serve as the site of American Pharoah's bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Belmont Park boasts the longest Triple Crown track, and should feature a number of viable entries who didn't run in the Preakness.

A two-week turnaround between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness didn't stop American Pharoah from finishing in dominant fashion at Pimlico Race Course. ESPN Stats & Info notes how the first two legs of the Triple Crown haven't been the big problem:

FiveThirtyEight highlights how rare it's been for any of the previous champions of Triple Crown races to claim the top prize in Elmont:

Espinoza rode War Emblem for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in 2002 and won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, only to fall short in the Belmont Stakes. The same happened last year for Espinoza aboard California Chrome.

Accomplished as both Espinoza and Baffert are, neither has managed to pull off the Triple Crown in one season despite multiple opportunities, including one together. Now they're reunited with an admittedly legitimate threat to achieve the elusive trifecta.

After the Preakness, Espinoza spoke of the easy speed American Pharoah had amid adverse conditions, per USA Today's Christine Brennan:

"

I pushed him to the front. As soon as I took the lead, that was it. He was very comfortable cruising around at a high speed. Each race, I learn something new about him, and it surprised me the way he runs. Today was an amazing race for him, but I couldn't really see how far I was in front because there was so much water in my eyes.

"

The sloppy track at Pimlico made the race tougher for American Pharoah, who was pinned to the No. 1 post position against the rail as it was. He still found a way to explode past the competition down the final few furlongs and claim victory by a most comfortable margin.

Although the added strength required to trek the tough terrain in Baltimore will help American Pharoah prepare for the Belmont Stakes, he did absorb a bit more wear and tear than usual for a Preakness champion.

The Associated Press' Richard Rosenblatt reports that another renowned trainer, Todd Pletcher, will challenge Baffert's Triple Crown threat with two fresh and capable Belmont entries in Materiality and Carpe Diem. Both ran the Kentucky Derby, not the Preakness, and were thought to have great chances to win, finishing sixth and 10th, respectively.

Carpe Diem won the Tampa Bay Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland before Churchill Downs, while Materiality was also a graded stakes winner at the Florida Derby.

Only Tale of Verve, considered the longest shot in the Preakness field before storming to the finish to salvage second place, started at Pimlico. All the other probable horses listed by Horse Racing Nation will have more rest than American Pharoah at the Belmont Stakes.

Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form points out that American Pharoah would set a new record in opponents defeated if he wins the Belmont and the field sticks to its current projected number of 11.

So many are trying to play spoiler to American Pharoah's Triple Crown aspirations. Espinoza has never been able to solve the riddle that is Belmont Park. The third time around may be the charm, because American Pharoah seems to have the goods to get it done.

For those presuming the Belmont Stakes will be a mere coronation for the prohibitive favorite, the grueling test of endurance will make American Pharoah a hard-earned Triple Crown recipient if he beat the odds and pulls it off.