Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Vegas Play of the Day: Belmont Stakes

American Pharoah

Garry Jones / AP

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert walks Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah out of the barn to show him off at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Sunday, May 3, 2015. American Pharoah is Baffert’s fourth Kentucky Derby champion.

I guess I’ve learned my lesson.

My first reaction was to bet against the Chicago Blackhawks in today’s Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point. But since the Blackhawks have already chipped away at my starting $10,000 bankroll three times in the playoffs, I’ll look elsewhere.

American Pharoah to win the Belmont Stakes at minus-140: $490 to win $350

The horse with the misspelled name might not be the best of the 15 counterparts that have come out of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with a chance to win the Triple Crown since 1978. But he’s probably facing the weakest field out of all of them in the Belmont.

There are simply no other thoroughbreds in American Pharoah’s class this year, which is why horse racing is bound to produce a special moment that hasn’t happened since well before Bob Baffert’s hair turned snow-white.

No trainer can outmatch Baffert, who’s getting his fourth crack at the Triple Crown. No jockey is better equipped than Victor Espinoza, who gets a third shot at the Triple Crown of his own.

But, most importantly, no horse is nearly as talented as American Pharoah. He’s made the first two wins look effortless, beating the other seven horses in this field.

I don’t believe in curses, but if American Pharoah can’t finally snap the stretch without a Triple Crown winner, I might have to reconsider.

Standings: Bern (82-71-1, $11,755), Keefer (82-81-2, $9,267), Brewer (70-85-3, $875)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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