Belmont Stakes Field 2015: Pinpointing Underrated Horses and Jockeys in Lineup
We're just over one day away from the 2015 Belmont Stakes, and all eyes are on American Pharoah, as the colt aims to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. While Pharoah is certainly the horse to watch, the Belmont's field does boast some sleepers that should be recognized.
Underdogs have spoiled the party for Triple Crown hopefuls in the past at Belmont Park. In fact, we only need to look back one year for a perfect example, as Peter Pan Stakes winner Tonalist entered the third jewel of the Triple Crown and took down Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome.
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This year's race features a small, eight-horse field that should give contenders and their jockeys plenty of strategic options while navigating the 1 ½-mile track. Could that lead to the Triple Crown drought extending at least one more year? As we await the ultimate answer to that question, let's take a look at the field's updated odds and pinpoint some underrated horses and jockeys in the Belmont's lineup.
Belmont Stakes Contenders Info
| 5 | American Pharoah | 5-7 | Victor Espinoza |
| 6 | Frosted | 6-1 | Joel Rosario |
| 8 | Materiality | 13-2 | John R. Velazquez |
| 1 | Mubtaahij | 14-1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
| 3 | Madefromlucky | 14-1 | Javier Castellano |
| 2 | Tale of Verve | 20-1 | Gary Stevens |
| 7 | Keen Ice | 25-1 | Kent Desormeaux |
| 4 | Frammento | 40-1 | Mike Smith |
All Belmont Stakes odds courtesy of Odds Shark.
Underrated Horses and Jockeys
Tale of Verve and Gary Stevens
Tale of Verve came out of nowhere to notch a runner-up finish in the Preakness Stakes. The long shot had a rocky start to his racing career, taking six attempts to win his Maiden Special Weight. The Preakness was the colt's first stakes race, and he shocked all onlookers with his phenomenal closing ability.
At Pimlico, Tale of Verve didn't get off to a great start, falling well off the pace and spending the majority of the race in the rear of the pack. However, he put on a show over the last half mile of the Preakness, bursting past traffic and making his way to second place down the final stretch. That display of stamina and closing speed could make him a sneaky horse in the longer Belmont Stakes.
Trainer Dallas Stewart remains confident in his horse entering Belmont Park. Here's what he had to say during an interview with BloodHorse.com:
"We've been good, but we've got to get it done. We've got to march over there and get it done. I think he's a horse that's really bred for the distance. He can take it. He's got the stamina, he's got the pedigree. I think he's got the ability, so it's going to be a real good race for him. I'm feeling real good about it.
"
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will be aboard Tale of Verve, and his experience will go a long way in the Triple Crown's third jewel. No stranger to the Belmont Stakes, Stevens has previously won the race on three occasions and has nine total victories in Triple Crown races under his belt.
Madefromlucky and Javier Castellano
Madefromlucky's 2015 campaign has been interesting. The colt has already faced—and lost to—American Pharoah twice, earning a runner-up finish in the Rebel Stakes and a fourth-place showing in the Arkansas Derby. Although, since then, Madefromlucky found his form and went on to win this year's Peter Pan Stakes; however, trainer Todd Pletcher elected to hold him out of the Preakness Stakes.
Does that sound familiar? It should, because that's the exact route 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist took. Perhaps that was on Pletcher's mind when he decided to forgo Pimlico's race and opted to send his horses immediately to Belmont Park to train. Madefromlucky certainly stands to benefit from the additional rest and track familiarity.
Jockey Javier Castellano will be aboard Madefromlucky at Belmont Park. Castellano has never notched a win in the Belmont Stakes, as his lone victory in a Triple Crown race came in the 2006 Preakness Stakes. Although, during an interview with Jennie Rees of the Courier-Journal, he appeared confident in his horse:
"The Peter Pan was the first time I rode him. The way he did it, very nice and smooth and nice rhythm, I think he fits perfect in this race. He's the kind of horse who comes from behind. He'll run all day. After the Peter Pan, he was galloping out steady and strong. There's going to be some speed. Everybody will be targeting American Pharoah, and hopefully they'll go after him and we'll be in the middle of the pack and hopefully keep coming, keep coming.
I think my horse will improve a lot, and it will be a good test. At a mile-and-a-half, anything can happen.
"
Perhaps Madefromlucky's third time racing against American Pharoah will be the charm.
Mubtaahij and Irad Ortiz Jr.
An international horse, Mubtaahij found little success in the first leg of the Triple Crown, finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby. However, that unspectacular showing was uncharacteristic of the colt, as Mubtaahij has found plenty of success this year.
Following a disappointing start to his 2015 campaign with a runner-up finish in the UAE 2000 Guineas, Mubtaahij turned things around to win the Al Bastakiya one month later. The colt's most impressive showing came just three weeks after that, as he earned an eight-length victory in the UAE Derby.
The Kentucky Derby didn't go as planned for Mubtaahij, as the colt was caught up in early traffic, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had difficulty navigating the horse out of trouble. Trainer Mike de Kock elected to skip the Preakness to rest up for the Belmont Stakes, giving his horse a chance to regroup for the Triple Crown's third jewel.
During an interview with Wayne Coffey of the New York Daily News, de Kock was asked if he'd feel guilty about spoiling Pharoah's Triple Crown bid. The trainer said, "Yes, for 30 seconds I would. Then I'd be elated for myself and my horse."
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