How to Make Money Betting American Pharoah in the Belmont

American Pharoah won the Preakness Stakes (above) to set up his bid for a Triple Crown sweep in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Hard to believe a year has gone by already and here we are, once again on the brink of Thoroughbred racing history. After last year’s let down when California Chrome finished a valiant fourth in the Belmont Stakes despite racing with a bloody foot, I thought it would be a long time before we had another contender going for the Triple Crown.
I can only imagine how Victor Espinoza feels to be back in this spot once again with a shot to sweep the Triple Crown in back-to-back years. Espinoza lost all chance at the break with War Emblem back in 2002, and last year’s injury at the start to California Chrome left many racing fans wondering “what if” he had avoided that incident.
This is Bob Baffert’s fourth try at the Triple Crown. He almost had it with Silver Charm, he suffered one of the most unbelievable beats with Real Quiet, and then War Emblem’s hopes were dashed in the opening strides.
Racing luck is part of the game and many things have to go smoothly in order to have the best shot to win. In contrast, any slight hiccup can throw everything away in an instant.
It’s time.
#5 American Pharoah: The Kentucky Derby-Preakness victor is just awesome. He broke his maiden in his second start by winning a Grade 1 race and has not been defeated since then. He has previously defeated all of today’s opponents. I think he wins it. Can we get a clean trip?
Without a clean trip, I think these next horses have a chance to upset.
#1 Mubtaahij: I liked him in the Kentucky Derby, but he was a victim of the trip given the big field. Now, he’s gotten some time off to recover from that experience, and I think he will move forward in his second start in the United States. This distance might allow him to show that impressive turn of foot we saw in the United Arab Emirates Derby.
#3 Madefromlucky: He’s faced American Pharoah twice before and his best finish against him was a second in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. After finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, which also was won by American Pharoah, he posted a good local win in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. I think local experience on this track will benefit him.
MADEFROMLUCKY

Photo by Susie Raisher/NYRA
#4 Frammento: Has the connections of an upset in the making. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith takes the call for the first time and he’s won this race two out of the last five editions of this race with horses at double-digit odds. Trainer Nick Zito has won this race twice and both of those times involved a Triple Crown on the line. He won it in 2004 with Birdstone at odds of 36-to-1 (Smarty Jones was going for the Triple Crown) and again in 2008 with Da’ Tara at 38.50-to-1 (Big Brown was going for the Triple Crown). Zito is making an equipment change and removing the blinkers on Frammento. Frammento’s only career win came without blinkers.
How to make money with American Pharoah?
Well, he’s a terrible win bet given his short odds and the recent history with Triple Crown hopefuls. But, keying him in the trifecta with the previously mentioned longshots can still pay nicely.
Betting Strategy
50-cent trifecta: 5 with 1,3,4 with ALL
50-cent trifecta: 1,3,4 with 5 with ALL
50-cent trifecta: ALL with 1,3,4 with 5
Each Trifecta play costs $9 for a total of $27
$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