Non-Derby and non-Preakness runner Freedom Child will give it a go tomorrow in the third and final jewel of the Triple Crown Series, the Belmont Stakes. Surprisingly, Freedom Child is considered one of the more likely win possibilities according to the latest 2013 Belmont Odds. The colt is drawing a +800 moneyline ($100 wins $800) to win the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes, leaving behind only Orb (+300), Revolutionary (+400), and Oxbow (+600) on the odds leaderboard.
Freedom Child needed four shots to break his maiden, but the colt finally did so in March, beating an eight horse field in wire to wire fashion in a 1 1/8 miles race at Gulfstream Park.
Freedom Child’s next start would come at the Grade 1 Wood Memorial on April 6th. The product of Malibu Moon (also sired Kentucky Derby winner Orb) placed 10th in the race, but the result did not stick as it was declared a non-starter due to a compromised break.
Freedom Child raised a few eyebrows in his most recent outing, the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes on May 11th. The colt registered its second wire to wire victory, winning the sloppy track affair by 13 ¼ lengths.
Despite Freedom Child’s Peter Pan performance, many feel he will be a non-factor in the Belmont. The Peter Pan featured a soft nine horse field with much slower fractions than what will, in all probability, occur in tomorrow’s Belmont.
Freedom Child is trained by Tom Albertrani, who had two previous Belmont starters in Deputy Glitters (2006 – 10th place) and Brilliant Speed (2011 – third place). Jockey Luis Saez, who is making his Belmont Stakes debut, will have Freedom Child’s mount tomorrow; the pair will start the race from post two.
The 2013 Belmont Stakes gets underway on Saturday, June 8th at the Belmont Race Track in Elmont, New York. The Triple Crown finale will be broadcast live on the NBC and the NBC Sports Network at approximately 5:00pm ET.
Orb +300 (Post 5)
Revolutionary +400 (Post 9)
Oxbow +600 (Post 7)
Palace Malice +800 (Post 12)
Unlimited Budget +800 (Post 13)
Freedom Child +800 (Post 2)
Golden Soul +1200 (Post 14)
Overanalyze +1500 (Post 3)
Will Take Charge +2000 (Post 10)
Vyjack +2500 (Post 11)
Incognito +3000 (Post 6)
Frac Daddy +3000 (Post 1)
Giant Finish +4000 (Post 4)
Midnight Taboo +4000 (Post 8)
Belmont Stakes Betting Preview: Freedom ChildWhat horse racing bettors need to know about betting Freedom Child in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday (6/08/13) with insight from Richard Saber and Pregame.com's Marco D'Angelo.