Belmont Stakes 2015 Odds: Updated Lines and Favorites After Post Position Draw

When American Pharoah went to the post at the Preakness, he did it from post position No. 1, and that forced the hand of trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza. It meant that American Pharoah would have to go to the front if he wanted to maximize his chances of winning that race.  

That's just what he did—in the pouring rain—and he won easily.

American Pharoah will not be forced into any major strategic decision based on his post position in the Belmont Stakes. The odds-on favorite for the last jewel of the Triple Crown drew the No. 5 post for the 1 ½-mile race, and he should be able to draw a comfortable position after the gates open.

American Pharoah had success in the Kentucky Derby by getting near the leaders and establishing himself in third place early in the race. He was able to avoid traffic in the 18-horse field and then go into a full drive by the time he hit the top of the stretch at Churchill Downs.

The Triple Crown candidate has proven to be a versatile runner to this point. It seems likely that he will be forwardly positioned in the Belmont Stakes through the first half of the race before turning it on when he reaches the top of the stretch. While the long race would seem to favor come-from-behind runners, recent winners have shown tactical speed and not fallen far behind.

Baffert was pleased with the post draw, as he told Jonathan Lintner of the Louisville Courier-Journal: "I always like the five. It's a number I do well with. More importantly, the horse is doing well. So far, it looks like he's doing great. We've still got to get around there."

American Pharoah has been favored since winning the Preakness, and his odds have dropped to 3-5, according to Vegas Insider.

Post Position	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Mubtaahij	Irad Ortiz	Mike de Kock	10-1
2	Tale of Verve	Gary Stevens	Dallas Stewart	15-1
3	Madefromlucky	Javier Castellano	Todd Pletcher	12-1
4	Frammento	Mike Smith	Nick Zito	30-1
5	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	3-5
6	Frosted	Joel Rosario	Kiaran McLaughlin	5-1
7	Keen Ice	Kent Desormeaux	Dale Romans	20-1
8	Materiality	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	6-1

American Pharoah had been training at Churchill Downs since winning the Preakness May 16. He shipped in to the New York track Tuesday afternoon and made the trip without incident.

Frosted is the second betting choice in the field at odds of 5-1. He will start from the No. 6 post, right next to American Pharoah, and he is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by jockey Joel Rosario.

Frosted struggled early in the Kentucky Derby, but he rallied well in that race and finished fourth. He has proven to be an outstanding stretch runner and would appear to have an excellent chance if he doesn't fall far behind in the early part of the race.

Garry Jones/Associated Press

Materialty is the third choice at 6-1, and he has drawn the outside No. 8 post position. With a small field, drawing the outside spot could be an advantage for the Todd Pletcher-trained horse. Materiality has not won since struggling in the Derby, and Pletcher has used this strategy before to win the Belmont Stakes.

Madefromlucky, another Pletcher-trained horse, has the No. 3 post position. At odds of 12-1, he could have a chance to hit the board if not make a run at the potential Triple Crown winner.