2015 Belmont Stakes
{{short description|147th running of the Belmont Stakes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox horse race
| name = 147th Belmont Stakes
| horse race = Belmont Stakes
| image = 2015 Belmont Stakes logo.png
| caption = "The Test of the Champion"
| surface = Dirt
| location = Belmont Park
Elmont, New York, U.S.
| distance = {{convert|1+1/2|mi|furlong m|0|abbr=on}}
| date = June 6, 2015
| final odds = 0.75 (to 1)
| winning time = 2:26.65
| winning horse = American Pharoah
| winning jockey = Victor Espinoza
| winning trainer = Bob Baffert
| winning owner = Zayat Stables, LLC
| conditions = Fast
| attendance = 90,000
| previous = 2014
| next = 2016
}}
The 2015 Belmont Stakes (known as the 147th Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings for sponsorship reasons) was the 147th in the Belmont Stakes series. The {{convert|1+1/2|mi|m|adj=on}} race, known as the "test of the champion" and sometimes called the "final jewel" in thoroughbred horse racing's traditional Triple Crown series, was held on June 6, 2015, three weeks after the Preakness Stakes and five weeks after the Kentucky Derby. The Belmont Stakes was the 11th race of a 13 race card which included 10 stakes races.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91502/belmont-park-set-for-april-29-opening|title= Belmont Park Set for April 29 Opening|publisher= Bloodhorse.com|date= April 24, 2015|author=The Blood-Horse staff}} Post time for race 11 was 6:52 pm EDT.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcsports.com/horse-racing/countdown-triple-crown/will-american-pharoah-win-triple-crown |title=Will American Pharoah win Triple Crown? |work=NBC Sports |access-date=June 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607035605/http://www.nbcsports.com/horse-racing/countdown-triple-crown/will-american-pharoah-win-triple-crown |archive-date=June 7, 2015 }}
After winning both the 2015 Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, American Pharoah won the Belmont and became the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. As the 12th Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah ran the race in 2:26.65 which was the sixth-fastest of all time and the second-fastest (following only Secretariat in 1973) amongst Triple Crown winners.Petrella, Steve. [http://www.sportingnews.com/sport/story/2015-06-06/american-pharoah-triple-crown-belmont-fastest-times-records-leaders-secretariat-2015 American Pharoah posts sixth-best winning time in Belmont Stakes history]. The Sporting News. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
Pre-race
The New York Racing Association, which runs Belmont Park, located in Elmont, New York, announced that attendance for the event would be limited to 90,000.{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/lukas-applauds-nyra-decision-cap-belmont-attendance-article-1.2224604|title=Trainer D. Wayne Lukas applauds NYRA decision to cap Belmont Stakes attendance at 90,000 |last=Bossert|first=Jerry|access-date=May 17, 2015|date=May 16, 2015|newspaper=Daily News}} By Friday, June 5, all tickets had been sold out.{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/92439/nyra-reports-belmont-tickets-sold-out |title=NYRA Reports Belmont Tickets Sold Out |date=June 5, 2015 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}} To ease congestion at Belmont Station from racing fans leaving the venue, which led to hours-long waits the previous year, the Long Island Rail Road invested $4 million to improve mass transit in the area, and the New York Racing Association put in another $1 million. The LIRR added platforms to accommodate 10-car trains, positioned additional empty trains along the branch line to allow more trains to move out of the station, and upgraded staircases and signs. They also altered the schedule at other stations along the branch line to move more trains through Belmont Station. To slow down the flow of people leaving at the same time, the NYRA also brought in the Goo Goo Dolls to perform a post-race concert.{{cite news|last1=Hoppert|first1=Melissa|title=L.I.R.R. Outlines Changes to Ease the Wait for a Stampede of Fans Heading Home|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/sports/lirr-outlines-changes-to-ease-the-wait-for-a-stampede-of-fans-heading-home.html|website=The New York Times|date=June 5, 2015|access-date=June 6, 2015}} On May 29, 2015, the NYRA announced that the daily fantasy sports service DraftKings had acquired presenting sponsorship rights to the race. The deal, whose financial terms were undisclosed, included branding across the event site, the awarding of VIP tickets to a league winner through a promotion, and advertising exclusivity during NBC's telecast of the event.{{cite web|last1=Rovell|first1=Darren|title=DraftKings to be presenting title sponsor for Belmont Stakes|url=https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/12973575/draftkings-buys-presenting-sponsorship-belmont-stakes|website=ESPN.com|access-date=June 12, 2015|date=May 29, 2015}}
Two weeks before the event the connections for several horses announced that they would be entering the race after bypassing the Preakness Stakes. These included the following participants of the 2015 Kentucky Derby: Frosted, who finished fourth; Materiality, sixth; Keen Ice, seventh; Mubtaahij, eighth; Carpe Diem, tenth; Frammento, eleventh; and War Story, who was sixteenth.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/92109/frosted-scheduled-for-belmont-stakes-run|title=Frosted Scheduled for Belmont Stakes Run|access-date=May 22, 2015|date=May 22, 2015 |author=The Blood-Horse staff|publisher=Bloodhorse.com}} When the field was ultimately drawn for the race on June 3, Carpe Diem and War Story were not entered. A total of eight horses were to participate, all but one of whom had run in either the Derby or, as was the case of Tale of Verve, in the Preakness. The exception was Madefromlucky, who won the Peter Pan Stakes and had last faced American Pharoah in the Arkansas Derby.{{cite web|last1=Balan|first1=Jeremy|title=American Pharoah Draws Post 5 for Belmont|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/92357/american-pharoah-draws-post-5-for-belmont|website=The Blood-Horse|access-date=June 3, 2015|date=June 3, 2015}} Every horse entered was a descendant, through his sire, of Mr. Prospector.{{efn|Pedigrees in order of starting post position: Mubtaahij,{{cite web|title=Mubtaahij Pedigree|work=Equineline|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9355122®istry=T&horse_name=Mubtaahij%20(IRE)&dam_name==Pennegale%20(IRE)&foaling_year=2012&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|access-date=June 3, 2015}} Tale of Verve,{{cite web|title=Tale of Verve Pedigree|work=Equineline|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9369979®istry=T&horse_name=Tale%20of%20Verve&dam_name=Verve&foaling_year=2012&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|access-date=June 3, 2015}} Madefromlucky,{{cite web|title=Madefromlucky Pedigree|work=Equineline|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9343920®istry=T&horse_name=Madefromlucky&dam_name=Home%20From%20Oz&foaling_year=2012&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|access-date=June 3, 2015}} Frammento,{{cite web|title=Frammento Pedigree|work=Equineline|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9345209®istry=T&horse_name=Frammento&dam_name=Ginger%20Bay&foaling_year=2012&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|access-date=June 3, 2015}} American Pharoah,{{cite web|title=American Pharoah Pedigree|work=Equineline|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9314281®istry=T&horse_name=American%20Pharoah&dam_name=Littleprincessemma&foaling_year=2012&nicking_stats_indicator=Y#%23|access-date=June 3, 2015}} Frosted,{{cite web|title=Frosted Pedigree|work=Equineline|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9330751®istry=T&horse_name=Frosted&dam_name=Fast%20Cookie&foaling_year=2012&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|access-date=June 2, 2015}} Keen Ice,{{cite web|title=Keen Ice Pedigree|work=Equineline|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9317888®istry=T&horse_name=Keen%20Ice&dam_name=Medomak&foaling_year=2012&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|access-date=June 3, 2015}} Materiality.{{cite web|title=Materiality Pedigree|work=Equineline|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9326629®istry=T&horse_name=Materiality&dam_name=Wildwood%20Flower&foaling_year=2012&nicking_stats_indicator=Y|access-date=June 3, 2015}}}}
American Pharoah had previously defeated every horse entered, but he was also the only horse to contest all three legs of the Triple Crown and had run four races in the preceding eight weeks.{{cite web|last1=Zaccardi |first1=Nick |title=Will American Pharoah win Triple Crown? |url=http://www.nbcsports.com/horse-racing/countdown-triple-crown/will-american-pharoah-win-triple-crown |website=NBC Sports |access-date=June 6, 2015 |date=June 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607035605/http://www.nbcsports.com/horse-racing/countdown-triple-crown/will-american-pharoah-win-triple-crown |archive-date=June 7, 2015 }} Of the group, Frosted, who ran wide on the turn in the Kentucky Derby but rallied strongly to finish fourth, just three lengths from the lead, was considered by some commentators to pose the strongest challenge to American Pharoah.{{cite news|date=June 2, 2015|access-date=June 2, 2015|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/06/02/belmont-stakes-preview-american-pharoah-can-become-12th-triple-crown-winner/|title=Belmont Stakes Preview: American Pharoah Can Become 12th Triple Crown Winner|first=Kevin|last=Martin|work=CBS News (Miami)}}{{cite news|date=June 2, 2015|access-date=June 2, 2015|url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/godolphins-kiaran-mclaughlin-has-high-hopes-for-frosted-against-american-pharoah-at-belmont-stakes|title=Godolphin's Kiaran McLaughlin has high hopes for Frosted against American Pharoah at Belmont Stakes|first=Geoffrey|last=Riddle|work=The National (Abu Dhabi)}} While acknowledging that a Triple Crown win "is something every single person is rooting for", Justin Zayat, of Zayat Stables, LLC, which owns American Pharoah, anticipated a strong run from Materiality.{{cite news|work=CBS Local|url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/06/03/justin-zayat-triple-crown-win-is-something-every-single-person-is-rooting-for/|title=Justin Zayat: Triple Crown Win 'Is Something Every Single Person Is Rooting For'|date=June 4, 2015|access-date=June 4, 2015|first=Bryan|last=Altman}}
Race description
The day began with a rainstorm early in the morning which stopped after about an hour. The inner two-thirds of the track were sealed by the maintenance crew, and the track was rated fast by the 11:35 a.m. post time of the first race.{{cite web|last1=Mitchell|first1=Ron|title=Belmont Day Begins With Downpour|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/92451/belmont-day-begins-with-downpour|website=The Blood-Horse|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=June 6, 2015}} The Belmont took place under sunny skies.
File:2015 Belmont Stakes.webmFile:American Pharoah wins 2015 Belmont Stakes.jpg
American Pharoah, ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, was leaning back in the starting gate when it opened and was a touch late at the start, but he soon pulled out to an early lead, which he maintained for a gate-to-wire win. American Pharoah steadily increased his lead throughout the race. He was challenged by Materiality until the top of the stretch when Materiality faded, ultimately finishing last, and Frosted pulled into second. Keen Ice ran in the middle of the pack until a late rally brought him into third over Mubtaahij, who was fourth. American Pharoah crossed the finish line leading by {{frac|5|1|2}} lengths, with a winning time of 2:26:65 for the {{convert|1+1/2|mi|m|adj=on}} race, the second fastest among Triple Crown winners. His margin of victory was the fourth-largest for a Triple Crown winner at the Belmont Stakes. American Pharoah was also the first Belmont winner since Afleet Alex in 2005 to have run all three Triple Crown races.
{{cquote|... “And they’re into the stretch, and American Pharoah makes his run for glory as they come into the final furlong! Frosted is second with one-eighth of a mile to go! American Pharoah's got a two-length lead! Frosted is all out at the sixteenth pole! And here it is! The 37-year wait is over! American Pharoah is finally the one! American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!”—Larry Collmus, NBC{{cite web|last1=Brothers|first1=Donna|title=Holding Back Tears After American Pharoah's Triple Crown|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/21/sports/holding-back-tears-after-american-pharoahs-triple-crown.html?_r=0|website=The New York Times|access-date=23 June 2015|date=June 19, 2015}}}}
The win was the fourth attempt at a Triple Crown for trainer Bob Baffert, who at age 62 was the second-oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown.{{cite web|author1=ESPN News Service|title=American Pharoah claims first Triple Crown since 1978|url=https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/13025872/american-pharoah-wins-belmont-stakes-claims-triple-crown|website=ESPN|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=June 6, 2015}} It was the third attempt for jockey Victor Espinoza, who was the first Latino jockey to win the Triple Crown, and, at age 43, the oldest at the time.{{cite web|last1=Almasy|first1=Steve|title=American Pharoah becomes first Triple Crown winner in 37 years|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/06/us/belmont-stakes-american-pharoah/|website=CNN|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=June 6, 2015}}
Chart
class="wikitable sortable"
!Finish!!Post!!Horse!!Jockey!!Trainer!!Opening |
align=center|1
| align=center|5 | {{sortname|Victor|Espinoza}} | {{sortname|Bob|Baffert}} | align=center|{{ntsh|0.6}}3–5 | align=center|{{ntsh|0.75}}3–4 | align=center|$800,000 |
align=center|2
| align=center|6 | {{sortname|Joel|Rosario}} | {{sortname|Kiaran|McLaughlin}} | align=center|{{ntsh|5}}5–1 | align=center|{{ntsh|4}}4–1 | align=center|$280,000 |
align=center|3
| align=center|7 | {{sortname|Kent|Desormeaux}} | {{sortname|Dale|Romans}} | align=center|{{ntsh|20}}20–1 | align=center|{{ntsh|17}}17–1 | align=center|$150,000 |
align=center|4
| align=center|1 |Mubtaahij | {{sortname|Irad|Ortiz Jr.}} | {{sortname|Michael|De Kock}} | align=center|{{ntsh|10}}10–1 | align=center|{{ntsh|14}}14–1 | align=center|$100,000 |
align=center|5
| align=center|4 |Frammento | {{sortname|Mike E.|Smith}} | {{sortname|Nick|Zito}} | align=center|{{ntsh|30}}30–1 | align=center|{{ntsh|21}}21–1 | align=center| $60,000 |
align=center|6
| align=center|3 |Madefromlucky | {{sortname|Javier|Castellano}} | {{sortname|Todd|Pletcher}} | align=center|{{ntsh|12}}12–1 | align=center|{{ntsh|14}}14–1 | align=center|$45,000 |
align=center|7
| align=center|2 |Tale of Verve | {{sortname|Gary|Stevens|Gary Stevens (jockey)}} | {{sortname|Dallas|Stewart}} | align=center|{{ntsh|15}}15–1 | align=center|{{ntsh|19}}19–1 | align=center|$35,000 |
align=center|8
| align=center|8 |Materiality | {{sortname|John R.|Velazquez}} | {{sortname|Todd|Pletcher}} | align=center|{{ntsh|6}}6–1 | align=center|{{ntsh|5.4}}5–1 | align=center|$30,000 |
Times: {{frac|1|4}}— 0:24.06; {{frac|1|2}}— 0:48.83; {{frac|3|4}}— 1:13.41; mile—1:37.99; {{frac|1|1|4}}—2:02.33; final—2:26.65.{{cite web|title=Results 2015 Belmont Stakes|url=http://pro.drf.com/results/tracks/BEL/country/USA/date/06-06-2015|website=Daily Racing Form|access-date=June 6, 2015|date=June 6, 2015}}
Fractional Splits: (:24.06) (:24.77) (:24.58) (:24.58) (:24.34) (:24.32)
Payout
The 147th Belmont Payout ScheduleRef goes here
class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%" |
width="48px" | Program Number ! width="110px" | Horse Name ! width="58px" | Win ! width="58px" | Place ! width="58px" | Show |
---|
align=center| 5
| American Pharoah | align=center| $3.50 | align=center| $2.80 | align=center| $2.50 |
align=center| 6
| Frosted | align=center| – | align=center| $3.50 | align=center| $2.90 |
align=center| 7
| Keen Ice | align=center| – | align=center| – | align=center| $4.60 |
- $2 Exacta (5–6): $13.60
- $2 Trifecta (5–6–7): $109.50
- $1 Superfecta (5–6–7–1): $285.00
See also
Endnotes
{{notes}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Belmont Stakes}}
{{Thoroughbred Racing on NBC}}