Belmont Stakes 2015: Horses, Favorites and Contenders for This Year's Field
The potentially historic running of the 2015 Belmont Stakes is rapidly approaching, and the chance of breaking a 37-year Triple Crown drought is becoming an increasingly real possibility.
Thus far, eight colts have been confirmed for the Belmont Stakes field, per Turf 'n' Sport, with two dropping out Monday morning.
A number of the challengers competed in the Kentucky Derby but passed on the Preakness Stakes. The exception, of course, is American Pharoah, who is gunning for the victory in all three legs of the Triple Crown.
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Odds Shark has pegged American Pharoah as the favorite to win at the Belmont Stakes, receiving betting odds of 4-5. Behind him, Frosted is getting 5-1 odds after a fourth-place finish at the Kentucky Derby. Materiality is receiving the third-best odds at 13-2.
| Horse | Odds |
| American Pharoah | 4-5 |
| Frosted | 5-1 |
| Materiality | 13-2 |
| Madefromlucky | 12-1 |
| Mubtaahij | 16-1 |
| Tale of Verve | 20-1 |
| Keen Ice | 25-1 |
| Frammento | 33-1 |
Overcoming Recent History
American Pharoah is trying to break a nearly four-decade stretch in which horse racing has failed to crown a Triple Crown winner. The last to accomplish the feat was Affirmed back in 1978.
Colts may crack in the final leg of the Triple Crown because the course spans 1 ½ miles, which is longer than the previous two tracks.
Six horses have won at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes but have come up short in the Belmont Stakes since 2000. Those horses were War Emblem (2002), Funny Cide (2003), Smarty Jones (2004), Big Brown (2008), I'll Have Another (2012) and California Chrome (2014).
Like American Pharoah, California Chrome was the favorite to win at the Belmont Stakes entering the 2014 edition of the race. However, the horse wound up finishing in fourth place.
Field Could Include Seven Horses Trying to Stop American Pharoah
There are eight colts currently confirmed for the 147th Running of the Belmont Stakes after Carpe Diem and The Truth or Else dropped out of the running. That leaves seven horses trying to get in the way of American Pharoah making history.
American Pharoah is the clear-cut favorite, having won six races in a row, the latest a seven-length victory at Pimlico Race Course in the downpour during the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. Thirteen horses since Affirmed have finished first in the first two legs of the Triple Crown but have come up short at Belmont.
Frosted, who exhibited some late-race heroics in the Kentucky Derby, is the biggest challenger to American Pharoah, according to the odds. He won all four his races prior to the Derby but has used the last five weeks off to try to return to form.
Next is Materiality, who won the Florida Derby before earning a sixth-place finish at the Derby. The son of 2005 Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex, he may have the bloodline to make a run in the race. However, his jockey, John R. Velazquez, has won only one Triple Crown event.
Frammento finished 11th at the Kentucky Derby, but trainer Nick Zito claims his colt will fare better on a longer track. Zito told the Courier-Journal his horses always do better at Belmont, referencing 2004 winner Birdstone, who beat out Triple Crown hopeful Smarty Jones.
Other members of the field include Keen Ice, Madefromlucky, Mubtaahij and Tale of Verve.
Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, who rode Summer Bird to victory at Belmont in 2009, will jockey Keen Ice. Madefromlucky was a late scratch at the Derby but took first place at the Peter Pan Stakes. Mubtaahij finished eighth at the Derby, and Tale of Verve surprised many by taking second place at the Preakness last month.
American Pharoah the Favorite but Frosted, Materiality Could Make It Interesting
Frosted finished fourth at the Kentucky Derby thanks to a late rally. The colt faced 12-1 betting odds prior to the race, according to Odds Shark, before American Pharoah beat him by 3 ¼ lengths for first place.
That late push could come into play as the colts prepare for the 1 ½-mile course at Belmont Park. Unlike Churchill Downs, which is a 10-furlong track, Belmont is 12 furlongs, the longest course in the United States.
Frosted has had five weeks to rest since last participating in the Derby and skipping out on Preakness. In comparison, American Pharoah is attempting to race in all three legs. Horses that skip the Preakness have come in first place at the past nine Belmont Stakes.
Frosted's trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, told Newsday's Ed McNamara that rest could be a major factor when the colts line up for Saturday's race.
"The Triple Crown is tough," McLaughlin said, "and the most difficult thing is the three races in five weeks. In this day and age, we run less and space our races more."
Like Frosted, Materiality skipped the Preakness to train for the Belmont Stakes. Trainer Todd Pletcher has finished first or second in five of the last eight Belmont Stakes, and oddsmakers didn't favor any of his colts in those races.
Materiality has been training at Belmont Park while American Pharoah has been at Churchill Downs. NJ.com's Keith Sargeant reports American Pharoah will travel to New York on Tuesday.
As mentioned earlier, success at Belmont is in Materiality's bloodline, which bodes well for the horse's chances on Saturday.
Materiality showed off his impressive stamina at the Derby, rallying from a poor start to finish sixth. On a 1 ½-mile course, a stronger start and the ability to close could allow Materiality to advance even further.
Prediction: American Pharoah Will Make History
Recent trends suggest the favorite at the Belmont Stakes can succumb to an array of conditions on race day. Weather, course length and other well-rested colts can all play major factors when it comes to the quest to nab a Triple Crown
American Pharoah is seemingly the exception and perhaps horse racing's best chance at a Triple Crown in years. The colt's biggest competition are Frosted and Materiality, who both looked inferior to him when they raced at the Kentucky Derby.
Momentum is clearly in American Pharoah's corner. Based on the field and training, the colt is in a prime spot to etch his name in the history books and snap the 37-year drought.
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