Belmont Stakes Entries 2015: Final Odds and Predictions for Entire Field
The 2015 Belmont Stakes will either be a historic moment for horse racing or more of the same disappointment we have felt for years.
Since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, 13 different horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before falling in the final leg of the trio. This year, American Pharoah will attempt to break the streak.
The talent is clearly there for this year to be different, especially in a smaller field of eight competitors. The question is whether any challengers can run the perfect race to upset the favorite.
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Here is a look at the entire field and predictions for the Belmont Stakes.
| 1 | Mubtaahij | Michael De Kock | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 14-1 |
| 2 | Tale of Verve | Dallas Stewart | Gary Stevens | 20-1 |
| 3 | Madefromlucky | Todd Pletcher | Javier Castellano | 14-1 |
| 4 | Frammento | Nick Zito | Mike Smith | 33-1 |
| 5 | American Pharoah | Bob Baffert | Victor Espinoza | 10-13 |
| 6 | Frosted | Kiaran McLaughlin | Joel Rosario | 11-2 |
| 7 | Keen Ice | Dale Romans | Kent Desormeaux | 25-1 |
| 8 | Materiality | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | 13-2 |
Show: Tale of Verve
With just eight competitors, the "long shots" aren't that long, but they still have a chance to win people some money by finishing in the top three. Tale of Verve did that at the Preakness with a second-place finish and has the ability to do it again.
Although the previous race was a muddy affair, Tale of Verve proved tougher than some more highly touted colts and succeeded in his first-ever graded stakes.
As Michael Vesce of Daily Racing Form noted, "Tale of Verve has really impressed physically since arriving to Belmont and still seems to be improving."
This is an inexperienced horse with raw talent but has veteran jockey Gary Stevens aboard to show him the way. If he can set a good pace and save something for the final stretch, a third-place finish is well within his reach.
Place: Materiality
Many of those betting against American Pharoah based on history have their sights set on Materiality and for good reason.
Despite a disappointing eighth-place finish at the Kentucky Derby, the horse won each of his first three starts, including a strong showing at the Grade 1 Florida Derby.
Ed Gray of the Boston Herald explained why this event will be different than what we saw at Churchill Downs:
"In three starts prior to the Derby, Materiality demonstrated early tactical speed. He is expected to get away from the gate more alertly from his outside post and avoid the early traffic that proved his undoing in the Derby.
Although Javier Castellano can’t be faulted for the early trouble in the Derby, Materiality should benefit from the return of Velazquez for the Belmont. The Hall of Fame jockey was aboard for his three impressive victories at Gulfstream.
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The fresher horse has a chance to truly impress in Elmont and run a good race. In many years, it would be good enough to win but not this one.
Win: American Pharoah
Yes, we have seen plenty of poor results in the past from not only Triple Crown contenders but anyone expected to win at Belmont. The odds-on favorite has lost in each of the last eight years.
However, this is a very talented horse and a relatively weaker field than we have seen compared to the past few races.
Frosted comes in as the second favorite, but trainer Kiaran McLaughlin doesn't seem too confident in his ability to beat American Pharoah, via Jennie Rees of The Courier-Journal:
"American Pharoah looks like a superstar and is going to be very hard to beat. The closer we get to the race, I just have to keep going back to the fact that it's been a long time since we've had a Triple Crown winner. I've watched his workouts and he just looks like a special horse.
Like I said, I love our horse. He couldn't be doing better. But wow, it's going to take a subpar race from American Pharoah, I'm afraid.
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Counting on an elite competitor to run a subpar race and others to exceed expectations is not a good bet.
Both trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza have come into the Belmont with the Triple Crown on the line. They should be able to learn from their experience and figure out a way to complete the challenge.
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