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American Pharoah to go for Triple Crown in June 6 Belmont Stakes
belmontstakes.com ^ | May 17, 2015 | Jenny Kellner

Posted on 05/26/2015 3:48:13 PM PDT by ETL

For the third time in four years, Belmont Park will play host to a Triple Crown hopeful when American Pharoah attempts to add the 147th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 6, the final and most demanding leg of the series, to his victories in the Kentucky Derby and in yesterday's rain-drenched Preakness.

It will mark the 14th time since Affirmed swept all three races in 1978 that a horse has had a chance to join the 11 Triple Crown champions; none have succeeded. Three of those attempts have been by American Pharoah's Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, who won the first two legs in 1997 with Silver Charm; 1998 with Real Quiet and 2002 with War Emblem. Two previous attempts were also made by jockey Victor Espinoza, who rode California Chrome to a fourth-place finish last year, and was also aboard War Emblem.

On a humid Sunday morning, Baffert stood outside American Pharoah's barn at Pimlico Race Course and reflected on the events that brought him, along with Espinoza, owner Ahmed Zayat and the handsome bay colt, to the brink of racing immortality once again.

"It's hard for me to imagine I'm going through this again," said Baffert, who is sending American Pharoah back to Kentucky on Monday for a light week before he returns to training and comes to New York on June 3, the Wednesday before the Belmont.

"I can't believe this will be the fourth time I'm doing this, and how lucky I've been." He added. "All I can do is rely on my experience going to the next one. I know what to expect; I know how difficult it is ... with a horse like this it makes my job a lot easier. You see the way he moves; he just floats. It's just effortless."

Although American Pharoah looked unbeatable in two races over a sloppy track - the Rebel at Oaklawn Park and the Preakness - Baffert said he was hoping for a fast track at Belmont.

"Like the one Secretariat had," he said jokingly. "I'll take that."

American Pharoah could face as many as eight competitors in the Belmont, the centerpiece of the expanded three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival featuring 17 stakes races and purses of more than $10 million. Among them are Tale of Verve, who was second in the Preakness, and a gaggle of horses from the Derby who skipped the Preakness including Frosted (4th), Keen Ice (7th), Mumtaahij (8th), and Frammento (11th).

Also awaiting American Pharoah is a trio of contenders from Belmont-based trainer Todd Pletcher: Materiality and Carpe Diem, who were 6th and 10th, respectively in the Derby, and Grade 2 Peter Pan winner Madefromlucky.

"I understand," said Baffert of the fresh competition. "It just shows the respect they have for American Pharoah. It's something you can't control. It will make an exciting race. You have to earn it, just like he earned it in that weather yesterday. I've seen a lot of great horses leave here and [lose] the Belmont - Smarty Jones, Big Brown, Real Quiet, Silver Charm, Funny Cide, I'll Have Another [in 2012] ... you just don't know."

Espinoza can well understand, having lost the Belmont to Tonalist last year and finishing eighth aboard the front-running War Emblem, who lost all chance in the 2002 Belmont when he stumbled coming out of the gate.

"I come this year with a different mind now," said Espinoza. "It's not easy, but American Pharoah, if he can do it, I'm there."

Attendance for the Belmont, which will be supported by nine other stakes, will be limited to 90,000 this year. With more than 90 percent of reserved seating and hospitality sold out, any remaining seats and dining options for Belmont Stakes Day are available for purchase exclusively through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets are no longer available by calling, emailing or faxing NYRA, or by visiting NYRA's box office.

Print-at-home General Admission Tickets for Belmont Stakes Day are available for purchase while supplies last on Ticketmaster.com.

"The men and women of the New York Racing Association offer our heartfelt congratulations to American Pharoah and his connections, and we look forward to welcoming them to beautiful Belmont Park for the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6; the crown jewel of thoroughbred horse racing's iconic Triple Crown," said Christopher Kay, Chief Executive Officer and President of NYRA.

"American Pharoah's run for horse racing immortality will be the anchor of this year's expanded Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, featuring 17 graded stakes races and more than $10 million in purses. New, post-race concerts led by O.A.R. on Friday, and the GOO GOO DOLLS on Saturday will also complement an expanded array of hospitality options for fans of all ages.

"We encourage our fans to purchase their tickets in advance, and join us at Belmont Park as New York prepares to kick off the summer season."


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Hobbies; Sports
KEYWORDS: 2015belmontstakes; 2015triplecrown; americanpharoah; belmont; belmontstakes; horse; horseracing; horses; kentuckyderby; preaknessstakes; racing; triplecrown; workingdogs
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To: lwd

If you don’t subscribe to TVG, you may be able to watch it today, as they’re apparently having a special free promo on MSG+. But check your cable program guide to see if there are any free Belmont day promos.


61 posted on 06/06/2015 7:42:15 AM PDT by ETL (ALL (most?) of the Obama-commie connections at my FR Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
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BTTT


62 posted on 06/06/2015 7:45:01 AM PDT by novemberslady
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To: SunkenCiv

It should be a good race. Pretty good horses tend to show up as spoilers,

...

Yes, usually. But I don’t see much competition this time. AP seems to be the best horse by far. Madefromlucky is the only horse to have won at Belmont, so that’s my spoiler.


63 posted on 06/06/2015 7:47:19 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: ETL

I get coverage on NBCSNH from 2:30ET on so I will be watching. Tonalist is running at some point, if I’m not mistaken. I’ll take a look at the PP info you posted for these other races. Ping me to the new thread please! Thanks! and good luck!


64 posted on 06/06/2015 9:00:30 AM PDT by lwd
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To: lwd

I’ve been with Mubtaahij for both other TC races. How are you placing your bets? I want a TC winner so I’m putting AmerPhar at top.


65 posted on 06/06/2015 9:13:41 AM PDT by Yaelle ("You're gonna fly away, Glad you're going my way... I love it when we're Cruzin together")
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To: lwd
Tonalist is running at some point, if I’m not mistaken. I’ll take a look at the PP info you posted for these other races.

They apparently goofed with the PPs for the whole Belmont card. Hopefully, they will correct it.
In any case, Tonalist is running in the 9th race, the 1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap.

Note 2nd race is a non-stakes race.

Race 1 - Easy Goer S., $150,000, 3yo, 8.5f

Race 3 - Woody Stephens S. (G2), $500,000, 3yo, 7f

Race 4 - Jaipur Invitational (G3), $300,000, 4&up, 6f

Race 5 - Ogden Phipps S. (G1), $1,000,000, 4&up f&m, 8.5f –
(Breeders’ cup win and you’re in)

Race 6 - Brooklyn Invitational (G2), $400,000, 4&up, 12f

Race 7 - Acorn S. (G1), $750,000, 3yo f, 8f

Race 8 - Longines Just a Game S. (G1), $700,000, 4&up f&m, 8f

Race 9 - Metropolitan H. (G1), $1,250,000, 3&up, 8f –
(Breeders’ cup win and you’re in)

Race 10 - Manhattan S. (G1), $1,000,000, 4&up, 10f

Race 11 - Belmont S. (G1), $1,500,000, 3yo, 12f

_________________________________________

 photo 2015 Metropolitan Hdcp Belmont 01_zpsbyjct7uy.jpg

66 posted on 06/06/2015 9:59:23 AM PDT by ETL (ALL (most?) of the Obama-commie connections at my FR Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
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To: Yaelle

I’ve got a w/p/s on mubtaahij (and a separate one on frosted)...online through sportsbook.


67 posted on 06/06/2015 11:02:42 AM PDT by lwd
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To: lwd

I just posted the new thread.


68 posted on 06/06/2015 2:01:53 PM PDT by ETL (ALL (most?) of the Obama-commie connections at my FR Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
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To: ETL

American Pharaoh has a good post and a fast track. Hoping for a long awaited Triple Crown.


69 posted on 06/06/2015 2:07:30 PM PDT by Irish Eyes
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To: Irish Eyes

I posted a new thread for the Belmont.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3297626/posts


70 posted on 06/06/2015 2:38:26 PM PDT by ETL (ALL (most?) of the Obama-commie connections at my FR Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
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To: Moonman62

:’)


71 posted on 06/06/2015 5:21:11 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
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