Belmont Stakes 2015 Post Positions: Draw Start Time, Live Stream Info and More
American Pharoah's chances of winning the 2015 Belmont Stakes and completing the Triple Crown will depend heavily upon where things stand following Wednesday's post positions draw.
The pressure is squarely on American Pharoah entering Belmont Park, where he can end a 37-year drought without a Triple Crown by simply matching his magnificent performances from Churchill Downs and Pimlico Race Course. But should he draw an unfavorable gate for Saturday's race, it could begin to spell doom for his hopes of making history.
With that said, tough post draws did nothing to usurp American Pharoah at the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes. But as he enters his third race in a five-week stretch, American Pharoah might need a break from the Wednesday draw to give him his best shot.
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Here are the information you need to catch the post draw and how it could impact some top contenders.
2015 Belmont Stakes Post Draw
When: Wednesday, June 3
Where: Rockefeller Center, New York City
Time (ET): 11:15 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.
Live Stream: NYRA.com (membership required)
Current Lineup and Odds
| American Pharoah | 4-5 |
| Frosted | 5-1 |
| Materiality | 13-2 |
| Mubtaahij | 16-1 |
| Madefromlucky | 12-1 |
| Tale of Verve | 20-1 |
| Keen Ice | 25-1 |
| Frammento | 33-1 |
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.
American Pharoah
History tells us to temper our expectations for a Triple Crown come Saturday. After all, 13 horses have been in American Pharoah's position since 1978, winning the first two legs only to fall flat in the treacherous Belmont Stakes.
But then again, few of those looked quite as impressive as American Pharoah has through his first two Triple Crown stops.
The chips were stacked against American Pharoah before his Triple Crown hopes even took shape, having to overcome an outside post draw to mount a late run for victory. The post did him no favors at the Preakness, where he opened up in the treacherous No. 1 post—which has yielded one victor since 1961—only to cruise to a dominating win that never looked in danger.
The long trek of three races in five weeks can drain even the best of horses. Somehow, American Pharoah has managed to gain some pounds in the process, as told by Churchill Downs PR:
"Trainer Bob Baffert tells us American Pharoah weighed 1,178 pounds before Arkansas Derby. Weighs 1,186 today. Amazing.
— Churchill Downs PR (@DerbyMedia) June 1, 2015"
Both Dortmund and Firing Line gave American Pharoah tough tests in the Derby, and more was expected from both of them at the Preakness before neither managed to finish in the top three. He won't have to worry about either of them in Elmont, New York, but will have a slew of horses who have the advantage of added rest.
The last 13 horses in this position failed for a reason. Completing the 1 ½-mile race at Belmont against a slew of fresher contenders is no simple task. But that will only add to the impressive nature of American Pharoah's win should he reign supreme at Belmont.
Frosted
Trainers typically remove horses from the second leg of the Triple Crown to make sure they get proper rest for the third. That's exactly what has manifested to make Frosted leading contender heading into Saturday.
Frosted showed signs of both formidability and susceptibility in Churchill Downs at the Kentucky Derby, where he struggled early and fell to the back of the pack only to surge forward and finish fourth—just a whisker behind Dortmund. His overseers made the wise decision to keep him out at Pimlico, ensuring a fresh horse for the 1 ½-mile trek at Belmont.
The horse trained by Kiaran McLaughlin should prove to be among American Pharoah's biggest challengers Saturday, but much of that will depend on his post draw. He got boxed in early at the Kentucky Derby, and it spoiled his winning chances. But a stronger start would leave him in an ideal spot to attack late.
Frosted showed the horse racing world what he was capable of down the stretch at Churchill Downs, but he'll need to prove himself in the opening few furlongs this time if he wants to be in a winning position.
Materiality
When trainer Todd Pletcher made the eyebrow-raising decision to keep all four of his potential Preakness runners out of the Triple Crown's second leg, you knew some would make noise at Belmont. Materiality could be the one to do just that.
After Pletcher announced to the Associated Press (via the Chicago Tribune) that he would hold Carpe Diem out of Saturday's race, Materiality instantly became Pletcher's best bet at winning. But he's no second option.
He showed an ability to run with the field at the Kentucky Derby, where he finished sixth, but three straight wins prior to that are a better indication of his prowess. Materiality looks nothing short of impressive in preparation, as told by Jonathan Lintner of the Courier-Journal:
"I thought [Materiality] worked very well," Pletcher said. "You know, he's the kind of horse who kind of does what his workmate does. It was a very good, progressive breeze, picking it up as they went along, with a very strong gallop out. [Materiality] came back and he wasn't even blowing. He just took it all very well."
Early adversity prevented Materiality from mounting much of a challenge at Churchill Downs, and he didn't get an opportunity to prove himself at Pimlico. Being held out of that race, however, looks to have given him an edge over American Pharoah with fresher legs.
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