Belmont Stakes Draw 2015: Schedule, Live Stream Info for Post Positions Reveal
On Wednesday, those brave enough to tackle the lengthy 2015 Belmont Stakes will learn their fate at the post positions draw.
All eyes may fixate on Bob Baffert's American Pharoah, but when it comes right down to it, every horse is a threat depending on how things turn out at the draw. It makes for quite the intriguing odds a spoiler could ruin a Triple Crown bid.
The full field remains in flux ahead of the draw, but either way it seems to have the look of the most competitive race of the three legs. Here's a look at how to watch the draw drama.
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2015 Belmont Stakes Post Positions 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)
Belmont Stakes Projected Lineup
| American Pharoah | 4-5 |
| Frosted | 5-1 |
| Materiality | 13-2 |
| Madefromlucky | 12-1 |
| Mubtaahij | 16-1 |
| Keen Ice | 25-1 |
| Tale of Verve | 201 |
| Frammento | 22-1 |
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark as of June 2.
Preview
What's in a draw at the Belmont Stakes?
Quite a lot, actually.
According to Belmont-Stakes.info, the inside positions feature the most wins. Post position No. 1 next to the rail features the most wins with 23, while the second and third posts tout 11 and 13, respectively.
It makes sense—the Belmont is the longest of the three Triple Crown legs, what some would classify as the marathon of horse racing. An inside trek, so long as the runners don't get pinned down, makes for an easier time. Lining up on the outside means an even longer dash just to be in contention down the stretch.
There is good news for the probables, though, as two more horses just pulled out of the running. Per The Associated Press, trainer Todd Pletcher won't run Carpe Diem, and The Truth or Else was also scratched by trainer Ken McPeek, meaning the probables may be closer to inside than usual.
It's easy to throw away the notion of the post position's importance when it comes to American Pharoah.
Fair enough—Baffert's top horse drew an unfavorable slot at the Kentucky Derby and came from behind to win. He followed up with an iffy rail spot in sloppy conditions at the Preakness Stakes, prompting jockey Victor Espinoza to pull off a wire-to-wire strategy for the win.
Post position might not be a moot point this time around, though. By now, American Pharoah might struggle with fatigue after running three races in a little more than a month, this one the longest of all.
Unlike Pimlico, where only a few horses stood a chance and wound up stuck in the mud, the event in New York features many serious contenders.
There's international sensation Mubtaahij, who excels at long distances. David Grening of Daily Racing Form suggests the transition to a new jockey couldn't be going better:
There's Pletcher's Materiality, a sixth-place finisher at Churchill Downs who skipped the Preakness and features the come-from-behind mentality and ability to push the best of the best.
Also worth a serious watch Wednesday is trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's Frosted, the fourth-place finisher at the Kentucky Derby who features enough closing speed to also put up a serious fight.
McLaughlin told Ron Mitchell of BloodHorse.com it's all about form on race day: "We have to have an 'A-plus' day and he has to have a 'B' day. But it's a mile-and-a-half, it's a different race over a different track and we're here. We're as close to the paddock as you can get. So it's nice just to walk through the tunnel and be at the paddock."
Post position will play a role as well, which is what makes Wednesday so important. There are four other horses in the running as well, rested and looking to make history by unseating the world-famous American Pharoah, just as Tonalist took down California Chrome last year.
While American Pharoah has yet to show a significant weakness, the fatigue, unknown of a long distance and the simple luck of the draw casts a shred of doubt—especially after Espinoza struggled with California Chrome last year.
If Wednesday's result proves favorable, the doubt fades. If not, well, more questions than ever will remain about his Triple Crown candidacy and the result of the spectacle in New York.
Stats and information via Preakness.com unless otherwise specified.
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