Belmont Stakes Field 2015: Pedigree Info and Predictions for Horses in Lineup
When it comes to the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, it's best to dig deep and unearth even the smallest nuggets of info.
This is especially the case for bettors brave enough to throw down coin on the year's most unpredictable race. American Pharoah looks like a surefire winner and a candidate to end a 37-year drought, but the lengthy trek, fresh competitors and other factors suggest it won't be as easy as anyone thinks.
Pedigree info is one of those details folks must look at in order to make the best possible decision. Horse racing is unlike any other sport in that such info has a direct impact on the competitor's ability—or at least suggests what distances and styles a horse should excel.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here's a look at the info—with predictions to boot.
Projected Horses, Odd, Predictions
| American Pharoah | Pioneerof The Nile | Littleprincessemma | 5-6 | 1 |
| Frosted | Tapit | Fast Cookie | 11-2 | 3 |
| Materiality | Afleet Alex | Wildwood Flower | 13-2 | 2 |
| Carpe Diem | Giant's Causeway | Rebridled Dreams | 12-1 | 7 |
| Madefromlucky | Lookin At Lucky | Home From Oz | 16-1 | 6 |
| Mubtaahij | Dubawi | Pennegale | 16-1 | 5 |
| Keen Ice | Curlin | Medomak | 28-1 | 4 |
| Tale of Verve | Tale of Ekati | Verve | 22-1 | 8 |
| Frammento | Midshipman | Ginger Bay | 40-1 | 9 |
| The Truth or Else | Yes It's True | Lakenheath | 50-1 | 10 |
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark as of June 1. Pedigree info via HorseRacingNation.com.
Underrated Horses to Watch
Keen Ice
Much of the attention goes to Bob Baffert and American Pharoah, as well as Todd Pletcher and his stable of contenders who sat out the Preakness Stakes.
Out of the spotlight, Keen Ice continues to put in strong work and look like a serious contender.
Steve Haskin of BloodHorse.com provides some recent info on the colt's work:
A seventh-place finish at the Kentucky Derby won't turn any heads on paper, but given the immense depth of the field, it was a solid showing for the Dale L. Romans-trained horse.
Even better, a glance at pedigree suggests good things, with sire Curlin a household name for most thanks to notable wins such as at the Breeders Cup Classic, as well as a second-place finish at the Belmont in 2007.
Look for Keen Ice to catch folks off guard with a strong performance.
Madefromlucky
The encouraging pedigree info is much of the same for Pletcher's Madefromlucky, whose sire, Lookin At Lucky, features a marquee win at the Preakness Stakes in 2010.
Madefromlucky sat out the first two legs of the Triple Crown but recently took home a win at the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes in May. Even better, in March he showed he can run with the best of the best, finishing second behind American Pharoah at the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes.
Pletcher spoke with Claire Novak of BloodHorse.com about the importance of his horse's recent win when it comes to the Belmont:
"The Belmont Stakes is something we'd talked about a while back. We felt Madefromlucky would keep going and going and going. We wanted to find out where he fit and the Peter Pan has historically been a good prep for the Belmont. He earned his way in if he comes out of this well and trains accordingly.
"
The Belmont is one of those races where a complete unknown can come out of nowhere as contenders tire down the lengthy stretch to steal the win.
It helps Madefromlucky touts solid pedigree going into things, but most of all, Pletcher continues to run great performances in New York, making this one of the top underdog pairings to watch.
Mubtaahij
While it may scare some away, the fact the spectacle in New York is just Mubtaahij's second American start isn't a major ordeal.
In fact, it's quite the good thing considering international horses excel at longer distances, making the event a solid place for Mubtaahij to re-enter the fray. The pedigree backs this up, too, with sire Dubawi the owner of a third-place finish in the 2005 Grade 1 Epsom Derby, also a 1 ½-mile sprint.
Perhaps the real cause for concern is the fact Mubtaahij needs to learn the paces with new jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., although the early returns suggest this bonding period continues to develop just fine, as captured by David Grening of Daily Racing Form:
All things equal, including an eighth-place finish at Churchill Downs despite the clutter, Mubtaahij seems to tout the resume of a serious underdog worth keeping an eye on at a distance he shouldn't have too many issues with.
The deeper one digs on trainer Michael F. De Kock's horse, the better things look.
Stats and information via Preakness.com unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
