Madefromlucky Attempts to Play Spoiler in 2015 Belmont Stakes

Madefromlucky Attempts to Play Spoiler in 2015 Belmont Stakes: The Belmont is only two-and-a-half weeks away, and there is a Triple Crown to be attempted when American Pharoah goes to the post on June 6. However, as seen in the history of Belmont upsets, the average winning odds of the Belmont champion are 12.6-1. If American Pharoah can do what the public and racing world think he can do, all the other horses in the field will be at double digit odds, which could turn out to be a good thing for the bettors and winning connections.

This year, the Peter Pan winner Madefromlucky is looking to pull the double that has led multiple horses to wear the blanket of white carnations. Some of the more recent horses to do so are Tonalist and A.P. Indy. Other winners of the double include Danzig Connection in 1986 and Coastal in 1979.

Madefromlucky seems to relish distance and has a nearly perfect running style for the Belmont Stakes. Recent editions indicate that the Belmont Stakes favors horses with tactical speed instead of closers. Todd Pletcher seems to think the Belmont Stakes would fit his colt perfectly.

“The Belmont Stakes is something we’d talked about a while back,” Pletcher said. “We felt Madefromlucky would keep going and going and going. We wanted to find out where he fit, and the Peter Pan has historically been a good prep for the Belmont. He earned his way in if he comes out of this well and trains accordingly.”

Madefromlucky likes to do his running later in a race but can sit close to a pace, make his run on the turn for home, and sustain it through the stretch. In the Peter Pan, Madefromlucky sat off the speedier horses and then eked out his win late in the stretch. Getting away from American Pharoah did the colt a world of good and likely instilled in him some confidence.

Madefromlucky is from the first crop of Lookin At Lucky, the 2009 and 2010 Champion Two- and Three-Year-Old Colt. The stallion also won the Preakness Stakes in 2010 before moving on to win the Haskell and Indiana Derby. Lookin At Lucky would finish fourth behind Zenyatta and Blame in the Breeders’ Cup Classic before retiring to Ashford to stand stud. As a son of Smart Strike, Lookin At Lucky has proven that he can pass along speed, class, and stamina. Madefromlucky is his sire’s chief earner at the moment and his most accomplished.

Madefromlucky is out of the unraced mare Home From Oz. This mare is a full sibling to the 2014 Leading Sire, Tapit. Home From Oz is also out of a half-sibling to Rubiano, Tap Your Heels. Rubiano was a top sprinter and stallion in his day. However, looking at Madefromlucky’s pedigree, there seems to be a very balanced mix of speed and stamina. Smart Strike sired every type of runner imaginable, both sprinters and routers on dirt and turf. Tap Your Heels is by Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, who sired a winner of every Triple Crown Classic. There are also traces of Nijinsky II, by Northern Dancer, and Mr. Prospector. Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector are considered to be the top two foundation sires in recent memory. They have certainly helped shape the breed.

Pulpit is the damsire of Madefromlucky and was a top stallion in his days. Before proving to be a valuable stallion for Claiborne Farms, Pulpit was a lightly raced son of A.P. Indy, winner of the Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic. Pulpit won the Fountain of Youth and Blue Grass Stakes before finishing fourth in the 1997 Kentucky Derby. He retired following that race due to injury.

Madefromlucky hails from a strong, influential family on both sides of his pedigree and seems to relish competition, and he has now been tested on the sandy surface of Belmont’s main track. If Madefromlucky can hand American Pharoah a defeat in the Belmont Stakes, he may be added to the list of top Belmont Stakes upsets. However, the Belmont Stakes could also set Madefromlucky up for a top-notch 2015 campaign for the later half of the year. Todd Pletcher knows his horses, and this colt seems to be improving at the right time. Removing this colt from the Kentucky Derby could have been the best for the colt and his career.

The 147th running of the belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The third and final jewel of the Triple Crown will be the eleventh race scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET and will air on NBC.

Related Links:
2015 Belmont Stakes Information and General Tips
The Belmont Stakes is Rich in Racing History
Top 10 Upsets Prove Belmont Stakes to Be No Easy Task