Ontario-based Standardbred horse owner Mac Nichol, who is also a co-owner of Belmont Stakes starter Madefromlucky, has offered some comments on his charge leading up to Saturday’s $1.5-million test for three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
American Pharoah – who is looking to become the first Thoroughbred Triple Crown winner south of the border since Affirmed in 1978 – has drawn Post 5 for the Belmont. He has been installed as the 3-5 early favourite to win the 147th edition of the mile-and-a-half classic.
Nichol’s Madefromlucky, who is the top money-winner in 'The Stable That God Loves,' will face the toughest challenge of his career Saturday at New York’s Belmont Park. He will start from Post 3 and has been assessed at early odds of 12-1.
“He is training great and he is carrying his weight well,” Nichol said. “And he likes the track and the one and one-half mile distance of the Belmont.”
The chestnut colt is trained by Todd Pletcher and will have jockey Javier Castellano back aboard in the Belmont.
Post time for the Belmont is 6:50 p.m. Television coverage on NBC will start at 3:30 p.m.
The Stable That God Loves is a major fundraiser for the Standardbred Chaplaincy of Canada.
(With files from The Stable That God Loves)