There will be no shortage of wagering opportunities Friday and Saturday – Belmont Stakes Day – at Belmont Park, including multiple two-day daily double bets.
On Saturday, American Pharoah steps to the plate. He will either become the 12th Triple Crown winner, or the 14th horse since Affirmed – and 24th overall – who won the Derby and Preakness but did not win the Belmont.
Prior to the Kentucky Derby, more people picked American Pharoah than any other horse. Prior to the Preakness, just about everybody picked American Pharoah. This week, hardly anyone I talk with is picking American Pharoah to win the Belmont Stakes.
Last year, trainer Keith Desormeaux won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Texas Red, who finished a close second to American Pharoah in the voting for champion 2-year-old. So when Desormeaux ships a maiden cross-country for a stakes race and names his brother Kent to ride, it merits attention.
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.
Justin Zayat is the racing and stallion manager for Zayat Stables, which owns 147 horses, including American Pharoah, who on Saturday will attempt to complete Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. To some, it may be hard to believe that, at age 23, Justin Zayat is making key decisions for one of the largest outfits in racing.
Jerry Crawford, who manages the Donegal Racing partnership which owns Keen Ice, is savvy enough to concede all the advantages in the Belmont Stakes to American Pharoah, except one. “He’s the best-bred horse from a stamina standpoint in the field,” Crawford said of Keen Ice. “He has not been as quick as some of the others. But the mile and a half gives the horse with the right breeding a chance to succeed.”
Nick Zito has a unique perspective on the Belmont Stakes, which will be run for the 147th time Saturday.
American Pharoah, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, on Wednesday morning had his first tour of the Belmont Park track over which he will try to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and seemed to take in his surroundings with the same aplomb with which he's handled just about everything else during his bid to become the 12th Triple Crown winner.
Two big days of racing at Belmont offer large fields and quality horses. First, let’s look at Friday’s card, where there are a lot of betting opportunities, and we’ll use DRF Formulator to find a couple to play as well as a couple to avoid.
