2015 Belmont Stakes Odds: American Pharoah Triple Crown Betting Favorite

Everybody watching the 2015 Belmont Stakes Saturday will be hoping to witness history as American Pharoah looks to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

At least that's the case for those who will not have their money riding on one of the other participants in the eight-horse field at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.

Those seven additional contenders racing in the Belmont certainly offer more betting value, along with a better chance to win based on recent history than the 5-7 favorite trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

The top competition for American Pharoah figures to come from one of two horses—Frosted (6-1 odds to win the Belmont Stakes) and Materiality (13-2), both of whom ran in the Kentucky Derby but skipped the Preakness.

Frosted finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby, while Materiality placed sixth, and they will start from the outside in the Nos. 6 and 8 post positions, respectively, with American Pharoah in the middle at No. 5.

The No. 5 spot has seen 14 horses finish first in the Belmont, including Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew in 1977, but none since Hansel in 1991.

The last six winners of the Belmont have either been newcomers or did not run in the Preakness. Frosted and Materiality definitely fit that criteria after missing the Preakness Stakes, as do Mubtaahij (14-1), Keen Ice (25-1) and Frammento (40-1).

The single newcomer in the field is Madefromlucky (14-1 on the Belmont Stakes betting lines), whose sire Lookin At Lucky won the Preakness in 2010. Madefromlucky finished fourth in the Arkansas Derby behind winner American Pharoah on April 11 but captured the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 9.

American Pharoah has been fortunate enough to dodge injuries so far, something the previous three Triple Crown contenders were unable to do following wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Last year, California Chrome’s bid ended with a fourth-place finish in the Belmont after he hurt his foot coming out of the gates. Before that, I’ll Have Another was scratched before the Belmont with a swollen leg in 2012, and Big Brown failed to finish the race in 2008 due to a cracked hoof suffered earlier.