Belmont Park – June 6, 2015
Race 11 - 6:50 PM
Belmont Stakes (Grade I)
Purse - $1,500,000
Distance - One And One Half Miles
Surface – Dirt
1 – Mubtaahij
2 – Tale of the Verve
3 – Made from Lucky
4 – Frammento
5 – American Pharoah
6 – Frosted
7 – Keen Ice
8 – Materiality
When I first began writing about horse racing my goals
were to learn about horse racing and share what I was learning with other
casual fans who may not know much about the sport – another goal of mine was to
continue writing until I had followed a Triple Crown winner……and over the past
years, accomplishing the latter goal has felt like this:
In 2008 I really thought Big Brown was a lock to win the
Triple Crown, but due to equipment failure he was unable to complete the race.
2012 brought the rise of I’ll Have Another – however an injury before the Belmont
prevented him from even entering the race.
And finally last year came the California favorite –
California Chrome, who sustained an injury at the beginning of the race and
finished 4th in the Belmont, likely due to the discomfort of the
injury.
The Belmont has been a lot of Badluck the past few years
--- however #5 American Pharoah will suit up today and hopefully bring home the
first Triple Crown in almost 40 years.
American Pharoah has only lost one race – and it was the
first race of his career. Since then he has been magnificent – twice he has
defeated opponents on a sloppy track in pouring rain.
He’s shown a fighters quality down the stretch when
rivals were looking to steal away his victory and he runs with a maturity that is
uncommon for his age.
In other words – if you’re looking for a Triple Crown contender
who’s got it all – look no further than American Pharoah.
His biggest challengers today are fatigue and the
daunting distance of this race.
For those who don’t follow horse racing – these horses
have never run a mile and ½ before – it is likely the longest distance they’ll
ever run in their careers.
Also – out of this
group of horses, only American Pharoah has raced three times (Kentucky Derby,
Preakness and The Belmont) in 5 weeks -- most of the time these horse will run once a month at most!
Looking at his competition –
#1 Mubtaahij – concerns me the most – he had a terrible
Kentucky Derby, but this horse may have the best breeding and training for the Belmont
Distance. This horse closes swiftly like
he’s got warp speed – so he could be the real heartbreaker in this one......he's also an Irish horse -- and for some reason the Irish horses are always trouble.
#2 Tale of the Verve – finished a distant 2nd
in the Preakness Stakes behind American Pharoah – Tale of the Verve only has 1
victory in 7 attempts – maybe the ownership thinks he’s got the distance in
this one?
#3 Madefromlucky – won the Peter Pan Stakes here at
Belmont a month ago – he’s been defeated twice by American Pharoah already
(finishing 2nd in the Rebel, and 4th in the Arkansas
Derby) – I think Madefromlucky could be a real contender to finish in the top
three.
#4 Frammento – 30/1 longshot, who finished 11th
in the Kentucky Derby – and he has 1 career victory.
 |
| Strangely Sensitive Cheetah would like to order a Frosted, Keen Iced Frammento....please! |
#7 Keen Ice finished 7th in the Kentucky Derby
and has 1 victory in 8 attempts.
#8 Materiality – finished 6th in the Kentucky
Derby – however the Kentucky Derby was this horse’s only loss in 4 attempts. I
don’t know if this horse has the distance in him, but I think Materiality could
be the horse that pushes American Pharoah today.
 |
| The Belmont is Coming........ |
But this blog was designed for a Triple Crown victory…..so ---
Closing Speed likes: American Pharoah, Mubtaahij, Frosted
If I'm betting $26 today --
$6 Exacta Box - Frosted, Keen Ice and Frammento (because fate would just love to kick me in the shins and have my imaginary Cheetah make the right call on this one).
$5 to win on numbers #1, #2, #3 and #8.
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