Belmont Stakes 2015: Odds, Weather Forecast and Prediction
American Pharoah won the Preakness Stakes on a muddy track and from the rail position. He won't have to deal with at least one of those impediments at the Belmont Stakes, per Weather.com.
The high is expected to be a balmy 81 degrees, and the low is a suitable 63 with only a 20 percent chance of precipitation. In what seem like ideal conditions, American Pharoah might have as good a chance as any horse in the last 25 years to complete the Triple Crown.
That partially explains why he's still considered the favorite to win the race, per Odds Shark.
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- 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
The Prediction
While the weather shouldn't impede American Pharoah, there's still some reason to doubt his chances to win the Belmont Stakes.
Todd A. Pletcher trainee Materiality and the highly regarded Frosted will try to play the Tonalist to American Pharoah's California Chrome. Last year, California Chrome made it to the cusp of horse racing immortality before seeing Tonalist dash his chances at the Belmont.
Some, such as California Chrome owner Steve Coburn, believed Tonalist had an unfair advantage because he hadn't raced in the Derby and Preakness. Thus, he and other horses like him are more rested for the marathon-like Belmont Park track.
Materiality and Frosted should be among the freshest horses in the race as neither ran at the Preakness. This is a common practice for Pletcher as he often withholds strong horses from the Preakness only to run them in the Belmont.
This has drawn the ire of those who have accused Pletcher of "undermining" the Preakness, such as Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde. Winning the Triple Crown is as much about stamina and durability as it is about anything else.
When one horse has had to run and win three high-pressure races against an elite field, he's at a disadvantage when running against a contender who has competed in one or zero Triple Crown events.
That fact is going to make American Pharoah's triumphant run at the Belmont Stakes all the more special. The most impressive part of American Pharoah's wins at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes was his ability to adapt and win in different situations.
At the Derby, he had to chase down Dortmund and Firing Line. At the Preakness, he had to overcome a tough post position and a muddy track. At the Belmont, the task is besting a small group of rested horses. In the end, American Pharoah will make history by winning the Triple Crown.
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