Belmont Stakes Odds 2015: Triple Crown Outlook and Race-Day Predictions
American Pharoah is on the verge of horse racing immortality as he bids to become the first winner of the Triple Crown in 37 years at the 2015 Belmont Stakes.
The colt swept aside all before him at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in May, making short work of strong contenders and battling adverse weather conditions along the way.
American Pharoah is the odds-on favourite to triumph at the Belmont but will need to succeed where so many before him have fallen short at the final hurdle.
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Here are the full odds for the entire field, including predictions of where each horse will finish in the 147th Test of the Champion.
| 1 | Mubtaahij | 14-1 | 5th |
| 2 | Tale of Verve | 20-1 | 4th |
| 3 | Madefromlucky | 14-1 | 6th |
| 4 | Frammento | 33-1 | 7th |
| 5 | American Pharoah | 10-13 | 1st |
| 6 | Frosted | 11-2 | 3rd |
| 7 | Keen Ice | 25-1 | 8th |
| 8 | Materiality | 13-2 | 2nd |
Though American Pharoah is the overwhelming favourite, history is not on the colt's side.
No horse has won the prestigious Triple Crown since Affirmed's triumph in 1978, and as the Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman notes, 13 horses have been in American Pharoah's position heading into the Belmont.
However, if any horse can overcome the weight of expectation, it's American Pharoah.
He has shown time and again that he can live up to the pressure of being the favourite and has scarcely put a foot wrong so far in his career.
After losing in his first race, he has won six in a row and looked comfortable each time.
Bleacher Report's own Adam Lefkoe and Jessica Paquette believe American Pharoah is in excellent condition for the race:
Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden explains why American Pharoah races so well:
"There are multiple factors that enable a horse—or any living creature—to run fast for a extended period of time (the Belmont will take nearly two-and-a-half minutes). One of those factors is aerobic capacity, but another is efficiency of movement. American Pharoah moves with breathtaking efficiency. His stride is swift and fluid, low to the earth and powerful, with minimal time spent in the air.
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Along with his outstanding physical condition, the colt has a lot going for it in jockey Victor Espinoza.
The experienced rider is yet to win the Belmont Stakes but is trying for the Triple Crown for a third time after coming close with War Emblem and California Chrome, per ESPN Stats & Info:
The Blood-Horse's Jeremy Balan was full of praise for the Mexican after guiding American Pharoah to victory in the Preakness Stakes:
Frosted and Materiality will contend the money finishes, but neither have shown enough in their careers that they can offer American Pharoah a significant challenge for first place.
With Dortmund absent from the field, it's American Pharoah's race to lose, and barring the unfortunate injury that befell California Chrome out of the gate last year, the colt will make racing history in the Belmont.
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