Bram’s Take: Pharoah’s Triple Crown Bid with an Eye on Racing’s Future

American Pharoah is preparing for his bid to become U.S. Thoroughbred racing's 12th Triple Crown winner on Saturday at Belmont Park. (All photos by Eclipse Sportswire, unless otherwise noted)
This is going to happen. American Pharoah is going to become the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown. And what will happen next will be predictable. Every purveyor of content from sports, to news to talk show entities will want a piece of the horse and his connections.
Some of the things you might hear about will be of the unsavory sort. But most of it will center around an elusive achievement, the first horse in my lifetime (that I remember, I’m 42) placing his name among the all-time greats. And then, it’s going to go away like a wave crashing into the beach. There’s always another big one coming. 
And it will be our loss if we don't do something about it. NOW.
If you are reading this, you are already a horse racing fan. You know what this means to you. What you need to know is this is your opportunity to share the sport with those who have never given it a chance. Every radio or TV interview I do about this subject includes the predictable question of “What does it mean for the sport if American Pharoah (or California Chrome, or any of the recent Derby-Preakness winners) wins the Triple Crown?” My stock answer was always: “A strong but short wave of publicity. The horse will probably be on “Ellen” or doing the top ten list on Letterman (sigh), and then what happens? People don’t start just skipping lunch to flood Aqueduct on a Wednesday.”
This has to change and it only will change if we, the fans of this sport, focus our efforts to express what an incredible experience a day at the track is and the tracks focus on being welcoming and open-minded to making this the best experience possible.
The time for change is now. Right now, when the world is watching and the best achievement the sport has to offer is fresh.
Here’s what needs to happen:
1) The tracks need to understand that gambling is not the pure lure it used to be. You can bet on your phone from your couch. So the events themselves, particularly on weekends, need to promote elements of entertainment that make being there memorable and special. Areas of the clubhouse and grandstand need to cater to a younger audience, which means: exclusive areas, DJs, premium food and alcohol service. Restaurants need to be upgraded to have a more modern feel with food options that surpass the standard hot dogs and burgers. Look at baseball parks across America, while national television ratings are down, the consumer experience inside the park is constantly improving. The food service is creative and modern. The fan experiences surrounding the games are innovative. What is horse racing doing to ensure fans understand they are going to have a memorable day? What is happening in between races to speed up the lull? Where are the modern video screens providing replays and entertainment? Come on racing, you can do better than this.

2) Perceptions of the sport. This is where the fans need to educate those who attribute negative stories to the sport as a whole.
A) The horses are, in large part, not mistreated. Yes, there are some terrible people at lower-tier tracks (mainly) trying anything and everything to win at the cost of an animal’s well being. This never has been nor ever will be acceptable. These people are not welcomed, and all of us want those people who are caught mistreating horses to be banned permanently from the sport. No one who loves this sport stands for that.
There was a recent episode of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” on HBO that profiled severely injured college football players who receive little to no assistance from their schools in terms of dealing with their catastrophic injuries. This needs to be addressed and changed. But what it does not imply is that colleges treat people like property, and once that property loses value, the colleges cast it aside to rot. The same goes for horse racing. This is not what this sport is.
B) Tracks are not for the degenerates. Just like Las Vegas, books are not for those who spend their lives betting on sporting events. Certainly, tracks are built on the commerce of gambling, but the Vegas model shows that just opening a room with a bunch of black jack tables and a sports book doesn’t ensure flowing business. A day at Saratoga Race Course or Del Mar will alter anyone’s opinion of racing. The scenery, sounds and, of course, the competition are what combine to make the day special. Saratoga is akin to Wrigley Field — the energy there is timeless. The other tracks must try harder. And we have to demand that they put forth their best effort. Make this a place we want to tell our friends to come visit. And in turn, it is our charge to bring new people with us and show them the reality of a fun day at the races.

C) No offense to the makers of past performances and racing programs, but the current format is from another generation. Now don’t get me wrong, whenever I attend the races, these are necessary periodicals for my handicapping methods. But the average young person is not interested in carrying around a giant newspaper that is filled with lines from a high school statistics course. There has to be a better way to educate novice horseplayers so they feel confident in picking a horse for other reasons than “I like the name” or “cool gray one!” Here’s an eternal truth: everyone likes to be right. Forget the money aspect of being at the races. Making a pick, sharing that knowledge with your friends and watching your horse win … there is no more eternal joy than being right. So, let’s help people understand how to make choices that have a basis in logic. I don’t have the answer for this issue, but I have some ideas that I’d love to take into a horse racing think tank.
D) Why must fashion and drinks and style be exclusive to major race days? People don’t get dressed up for New Year’s Eve and then wear flip flops to that same club on any other night. This is a lifestyle. It demands we act like royalty. People at hockey games wear hockey sweaters. People at football games dress like the players. It’s time we started to look like the owners. Wouldn’t you like to one day be in that winner’s circle? Dress like you mean it. Be proud of that concoction the bartender just made up for the day. Puff that cigar. Enjoy the spoils of life. This is the venue for that. And share that experience socially. Show others how great your day is going. They may stop and think, why am I not there?
I know none of this changes Saturday, win or lose by American Pharoah. What I propose is an action plan so that when the next Triple Crown is achieved, we are not talking about the same issues of inertia from generations past. Join me.

Now as for the field for the Belmont Stakes:
1. Mubtaahij — I wish he wasn't on the rail because I’m compelled to talk about him first. But I’d rather circle back. I have one of those funny feelings this guy is trouble. Irad Ortiz Jr. might be a first time jock on him, but he’s strong on the New York circuit. Trouble. At a Preakness distance in the UAE Derby, he won by 8 lengths. Trouble. Based on the lack of real depth in a short field, to me, he sets up as the spoiler.
2. Tale of Verve — His second-place finish in the Preakness was about as stunning as any upset really. He, like everyone else, was seven lengths back of American Pharoah, so let’s not turn that into some kind of predictor of future spoilage. But it's notable, especially considering he had yet to run in a single stakes race before the Preakness. Gary Stevens, who rode Firing Line in the Preakness, will be aboard Tale of Verve in the Belmont, but I don’t view that as some kind of game changer. Joel Rosario has a better horse in Frosted. I'm inclined to think he doesn’t factor in this finish.
3. Madefromlucky — Last time he raced was on this track and he put up a good speed figure when winning the Peter Pan. He also sat in perfect stalking position, took the lead at the top of the stretch and held on by a length. The other two stakes performances were so-so, including a flop in the Arkansas Derby. I don't think he's fast enough for the major players, even if American Pharoah is off, so I wouldn’t take a shot on him winning, but hitting the board? Yep.
MADEFROMLUCKY

Photo by Susie Raisher/NYRA
4. Frammento — This horse finished 11th in the Derby and never threatened to move up from that position. He’s been barely noticeable in the prep races leading in. In short, he can’t win. Here’s what I really hate about him though: he is stationed next to American Pharoah. He can’t beat him in a straight up race. So here’s to hoping when he comes out of the gate, he doesn't take a little right turn and give ole Pharoah a love tap. I want this thing settled fair and square. He has the look of a hatchet man.
5. American Pharoah — He's awesome ...
AMERICAN PHAROAH: HAIL THE TAIL

6. Frosted — Great move in the Derby from 14th on the first turn to a charging fourth. This lands him with 5-1 odds. That is way too low to even think of taking a shot on him. He might be the second-best option, but he’s not so good that his odds should be that short. So, I worry he’ll ruin history, but thanks to the morning-line opinion, I am really, really, really not rooting for him.
7. Keen Ice — I was out to lunch with a friend, and he was throwing his name out as a horse who has a shot, thanks to the distance. He also added, I’m just looking for value. Aren’t we all. I guess he has a shot at a longer race, if this was 24 hours at Le Mans. I don’t see it, even with the juicy 20-1 number. Good luck, pal.
8. Materiality — Johnny V goes 3-for-3 on him and then Javier Castellano rides him in the Derby to a respectable sixth. He started close to the rail and found himself in 13th place on the first turn. Little did he know, Pharoah would be hanging with the other fast starters from the far outside, so his plan to lay back and move when Pharoah moved: epic fail. Johnny V’s three rides included all quick breaks and racing at or near the pace. I assume this is what he’s going to do in the Belmont. Now, can he keep up with American Pharoah? Good question. He’s had the extra time off. I don’t envision this as a two-horse race, so I’m figuring one of the two will drop off when they make the final turn and, if I had to guess, it would be him. But that might be wishful thinking.
So I already told you this is going to happen, so I'm taking American Pharoah to win. I assume he and Materiality go off fast and lead the group the entire way. Materiality will fade in the stretch and be passed by … the wild card Mubtaahij and Frosted.
Good Luck. Here’s to the present and the future.
$1.5 million Belmont StakesSaturday, June 6, Belmont Park, 6:50 p.m. ET1 1/2 miles, dirt, 3-year-oldsTV COVERAGE: 4:30-7 p.m. ET on NBC 

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Owner

ML Odds

1

Mubtaahij

Irad Ortiz Jr.

Mike de Kock

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum
 

10-1

2

Tale of Verve

Gary Stevens

Dallas Stewart

Charles Fipke
 

15-1

3

Madefromlucky

Javier Castellano

Todd Pletcher

Cheyenne Stables and Mac Nichol
 

12-1

4

Frammento

Mike Smith

Nick Zito

Mossarosa
 

30-1

5

American Pharoah

Victor Espinoza

Bob Baffert

Zayat Stables
 

3-5

6

Frosted

Joel Rosario

Kiaran McLaughlin

Godolphin Racing
 

5-1

7

Keen Ice

Kent Desormeaux

Dale Romans

Donegal Racing
 

20-1

8

Materiality

John Velazquez

Todd Pletcher

Alto Racing
 

6-1