American Pharoah gets post 5 for Belmont Stakes

American Pharoah’s quest to become racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner and first since 1978 will start from post 5 against seven challengers in the 147th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, to be contested Saturday at Belmont Park. The Zayat Stables homebred has been installed as the 3-5 morning-line favorite.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who is taking his fourth shot at the elusive Triple Crown, said earlier this week that he wasn’t concerned about drawing a specific post position in the marathon 1 1/2-mile classic.

“The Derby draw was really, really important,” Baffert said. “Going a mile and a half in the Belmont, the draw is not going to be real important. They have a little run there to the turn. I think the break is going to be important – get away from there clean. You never know what’s going to happen there.”

American Pharoah and regular rider Victor Espinoza – taking his third shot at the Triple Crown - won the Kentucky Derby by a length on May 2 at Churchill Downs, then romped by seventh lengths in the May 16 Preakness Stakes on a sloppy Pimlico track. He will be the only member of his crop to start in all three Triple Crown events. Five of his challengers exit the Kentucky Derby, where Frosted was fourth, Materiality sixth, Keen Ice seventh, Mubtaahij eighth, and Frammento 11th. Tale of Verve finished second in the Preakness, while Madefromlucky is the lone Belmont newcomer.

The field of eight would be the smallest Belmont lineup since 2007, when the filly Rags to Riches prevailed in a seven-horse field. If all eight start and American Pharoah is victorious, he will have defeated 31 challengers in his Triple Crown sweep, second only to War Admiral, who beat 32 in 1937.

Frosted was installed as the second choice on the morning line at 5-1. The Wood Memorial winner, he drew post 6 with Joel Rosario aboard for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

The Belmont anchors a blockbuster card of 10 stakes on Saturday, including six Grade 1 events. Other runners expected to headline the card include 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, champion Untapable, and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern. The Belmont, set for 6:50 p.m. Eastern, will be carried nationally as part of an NBC telecast scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.

Field and morning line for the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes
1. Mubtaahij (I. Ortiz), 10-1
2. Tale of Verve (G. Stevens), 15-1
3. Madefromlucky (J. Castellano), 12-1
4. Frammento (M. Smith), 30-1
5. American Pharoah (V. Espinoza), 3-5
6. Frosted (J. Rosario), 5-1
7. Keen Ice (K. Desormeaux), 20-1
8. Materiality (J. Velazquez), 6-1