2015 Belmont Stakes: Updated Odds, Schedule, TV Info and More

Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978. Since then, 13 horses have attempted to replicate his feat at the Belmont Stakes, and 13 horses have failed.

American Pharoah will be the 14th horse to enter the Belmont Stakes with victories at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He will race a crowded field of contenders in the 147th edition of the $1.5 million Grade 1 event at Belmont Park.

Here is a glance at the schedule, odds and a closer look at the battle American Pharoah will face come June 6.

2015 Belmont Stakes 

Date: Saturday, June 6

Post Time: 6:32 p.m. ET (per Sporting News)

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Odds (via Odds Shark, as of Thursday at 3:30 p.m. ET)

Horse	Odds
American Pharoah	5-6
Frosted	5-1
Materiality	15-2
Carpe Diem	12-1
Mubtaahij	16-1
Madefromlucky	22-1
Tale of Verve	22-1
Divining Rod	25-1
Keen Ice	28-1
Frammento	40-1

Defining Storyline: American Pharoah vs. History and the Field

It is impossible to ignore how many horses have tried and failed to complete the third leg of the Triple Crown since Affirmed, but American Pharoah fought through a number of obstacles already this year.

He started on the outside in the Kentucky Derby and overcame an early deficit against Firing Line and Dortmund by covering more ground. He then started on the inside at the Preakness and dealt with rainy conditions and a muddy track and adjusted accordingly with a quick burst out of the gates along the rails. He carried that all the way to the finish line for an easy victory.

Don’t just look at the 1 ½-mile race and assume American Pharoah will fall short simply because other horses have in the recent past. This horse already overcame obstacles that would have ended Triple Crown bids from lesser competitors and appeared to have plenty left in the tank after a dominant performance at the Preakness.

Yes, his stamina will be tested, but it looked fine on the late charge at Churchill Downs. So did the head-turning closing speed at both the Derby and the Preakness. There is no reason to think those traits will simply disappear because this is the third race in five weeks.

Still, the biggest concern from American Pharoah’s camp has to be the competition that took an additional two weeks off by skipping the Preakness.

Among those well-rested foes is Frosted, who impressed with a top-five finish at Churchill Downs.

Then there are the Todd Pletcher horses that skipped the Preakness in Materiality and Carpe Diem. Pletcher won the Belmont Stakes in 2007 (Rags to Riches) and 2013 (Palace Malice) with that strategy, and he certainly hopes it works again against the dominant American Pharoah.

Garry Jones/Associated Press

Materiality in particular stands out after his sixth-place finish in the Derby. That may not turn many heads, but he is known as a quick starter and struggled out of the gate. He needed a late charge just to reach sixth place, which demonstrated more versatility than many knew Materiality was capable of before the race.

Tim Layden of Sports Illustrated believes it will ultimately come down to Materiality and American Pharoah:

The key to overcoming the rested competition lies with jockey Victor Espinoza.

He entered the Belmont Stakes with Triple Crown hopefuls in 2002 (War Emblem) and 2014 (California Chrome), only to watch outside forces derail his dreams. War Emblem tripped out of the gate, and California Chrome dealt with contact from another horse.

Espinoza discussed his unfortunate luck and how it will not impact this attempt, per Jonathan Lintner of the Courier-Journal in Louisville:

"

I can't look back and worry about the two times I lost the Belmont. When I rode War Emblem, he stumbled really bad at the start and that was it. My chance was gone right away.

California Chrome was tired going into the race and his energy wasn't quite what it was. Also, another horse stepped on his foot, and that happens when a horse doesn't have the energy it should. They do things in slow motion, and that's what happened.

So again my chances went when the gates opened. Twice my chances were eliminated like that. But it's different this time with American Pharoah. I know each horse is different and every time I'm there, I think differently, too.

"

Espinoza’s experience under this spotlight will prove to be the difference. His masterful adjustments were critical with the late charge on the outside at the Kentucky Derby and the quick start at the Preakness. He will do all he can to ensure the same things that happened to California Chrome and War Emblem do not occur with American Pharoah.

That ability to adjust accordingly, along with the horse’s sheer speed, will be enough for American Pharoah to take home the Triple Crown.