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147TH BELMONT STAKES

American Pharoah receives post 5, listed at 3-5 in 147th Belmont Stakes

American Pharoah made his first appearance on the Belmont track Wednesday morning (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) The connections of American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) won't have to worry about post position in Saturday's $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. The Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner will start from post No. 5 in the eight-horse field as he attempts to join the list of Thoroughbred racing immortality, becoming only the 12th winner of the storied American Triple Crown for three-year-olds. The Bob Baffert-trained colt drew well in the Kentucky Derby, settling into a perfect tracking position in the clear from gate 18, but his rail post was the subject of much speculation and concern entering the Preakness. It wound up being a non-factor as American Pharoah romped in the slop at Pimlico, scoring by a commanding seven-length margin in wire-to-wire fashion. "I don't really think it's a horrible post position. I've always liked the five," Baffert said. "It's one I've had good luck with. The main thing is that the horse is doing well; I think that's the most important thing. He's doing great, but we still have to get around there.

"I think we don't know until it happens. A mile and a half is very foreign for most of those three-year-olds and for me. We're just going to get him ready and if he's great he'll get it done."

'There's a really good vibe behind this horse,' Baffert said (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) Baffert will be going after a Triple Crown for the fourth time, finishing second in the Belmont Stakes with Silver Charm (1997) and Real Quiet (1998), and eighth with War Emblem (2002). The Hall of Fame trainer was asked how he felt about the strong possibility of American Pharoah ending the 37-year drought since Affirmed recorded the last Triple Crown sweep in 1978. "I don't know how I'm going to feel about it," Baffert said. "I don't think about it because I know how tough it is so I never get ahead of myself. I want to win it for the horse because the horse is deserving of it. He's an exciting horse to watch and he's an exciting horse for me to train the way the does things easily. There's a lot of pressure. Right now we just want to stay focused. The horse is happy and healthy. I have a great team around me. We're enjoying New York right now. New York is just amazing every time I come here. It's just a lot of fun. There's a really good vibe behind this horse."

Jockey Victor Espinoza is also in familiar territory. He was aboard War Emblem, who lost all chance when stumbling at the start of the Belmont Stakes; and California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), who dead-heated for fourth last year.

"I am very happy with the draw," Espinoza said. "Number five is a pretty good number. I'm here again. I've come here twice and I'm feeling lucky this year. The third time is the charm. American Pharoah is always special. From the first time Baffert put me on, he was special."

Owner Ahmed Zayat praised the depth of the competition and American Pharoah's skills.

"We are very honored and very blessed to be here," Zayat said. "I think this is going to be a rider's race. It's a small but tough and talented field. I personally think that this year's three-year-old crop is unbelievably talented. I think the horses deserve to be there. I'm a horse fan before anything else, and I have tremendous respect for a lot of them.

"It's going to be a rider's race. Going a mile and a half, nobody has won at that distance. They are very young. I'm confident in the ability of American Pharoah because the horse is giving me that confidence. I'm not arrogant about it. I think that he's a special horse. What makes him special, in my opinion, is the way he moves. He's the best-moving horse I've ever seen and he does everything so easy. His stride and the way he's going into carry himself will allow him to get any kind of distance. We are coming in the best we could. Bob did a brilliant job as well as the entire team preparing him. The horse looks very healthy and very happy. We're going in with no excuses. It's an incredible feeling to go in confident that you have the horse to beat."

McLaughlin is looking forward to dry conditions in the coming days with Frosted (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (G1) winner Frosted (Tapit), a late-running fourth after a wide trip in the Kentucky Derby, will start to the immediate outside of American Pharoah and was installed as the 5-1 second choice. "I didn't think there was going to be a bad draw for us and am happy that we drew post six in an eight horse field. No excuses," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "We weren't looking for any specific draw but in the middle is always a great place to be. In a mile-and-a-half race, they will all have plenty of time to sort it all out. Materiality (Afleet Alex) drew well, eight of eight, as did American Pharoah, five of eight, and they'll probably be the first two into the first turn and we'll probably be third to six and from there we'll let Joel (Rosario) work it out. "I'm just glad the sun is out so we can train properly. The last couple of days we've had to jog and now we'll gallop the next few days. Frosted is doing just super and we're excited about the race."

Two-time Belmont Stakes winner Todd Pletcher will send out Florida Derby (G1) hero Materiality, a rallying sixth in the Kentucky Derby after a rough start, and Peter Pan (G2) victor Madefromlucky (Lookin at Lucky). They are listed at 6-1 and 12-1, respectively, on the morning line.

"I'd envision Materiality being close to the pace and Madefromlucky maybe in midpack," Pletcher said. "I think with Materiality, if you look at his first three races he's always been close to the pace and unfortunately missed the break at Churchill and found himself in a position he'd never been in. I like the fact that we drew outside of American Pharoah. We're going to make sure we break well this time and go into the first turn trying to make sure there's an honest pace.

Pletcher envisions Florida Derby winner Materiality 'being close to the pace' (Adam Coglianese Photography) "I think (post 3) is fine (for Madefromlucky). I don't think it was important for him where he drew. I think he'll appreciate the mile and a half. One of the things we're hoping is that because in his previous races he didn't run the turns very well, and because he seemed to run the turn much better at Belmont, that it'll be a positive. It's kind of a bigger, sweeping turn. He needs to keep improving. I think his last race was his best and he's trained well since then." U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) winner Mubtaahij (Dubawi), an even eighth when making his U.S. debut in the Kentucky Derby, is the early 10-1 fourth choice and will break from the innermost post with new jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. "He's done well," trainer Mike De Kock said. "The fact that he's been settled in one place for a few weeks now has made a difference to him. I'm very happy with the way he's going and training. As opposed to the Derby where he had a lot of changes going into the race, everything has been pretty consistent this time, which I think makes a big difference. I think all the traveling and all the changes like feed, surroundings, changes, no one really wants to go through that going into a race like the Derby. Unfortunately those were the hoops he had to jump through. It's far more advantageous to be at Belmont and settled.

"I don't think a mile and a half is a problem at all. He's by Dubawi and there's a lot of stamina in his family. The way he won the Derby in Dubai I'd be shocked if he didn't get the distance. He did win from drawing (post) one in Dubai, but I'd rather be on the outside to be honest. We've got a rider that knows his way around the track. You've got to leave it to the rider."

A trio of late runners -- Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati), Keen Ice (Curlin) and Frammento (Midshipman) -- round out the Belmont Stakes field.

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More Triple Crown News & Notes:

Espinoza's schedule remains packed; McAnally reminisces on past TC winners

American Pharaoh back at Churchill, to parade Stephen Foster night

Zayat, Baffert hail Triple Crown champion American Pharoah

Pletcher reminisces on past Belmont victories

Zito looking to spoil another Triple Crown bid

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