Creator (13) with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., finishes ahead of Destin (2) with jockey Javier Castellano to win the 148th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., on Saturday. Gettysburg, also owned by WinStar Farms and trained for the first time by Asmussen this week, went to the front from the gate and set the pace all the way to the stretch, where Destin took the lead. Destin had the lead well into the stretch when Gettysburg dropped back after a mile, but Creator moved closer with every stride and won by a nose, the slimmest margin possible.
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The major disappointment of the race came from the heavily-fancied Exaggerator, who was sent off hot favourite after his Preakness victory when defeating Kentucky Derby victor, Nyquist. He wound up 11th.
The Triple Crown campaign, three races in five weeks, is an arduous undertaking for the 3-year-old thoroughbreds whose owners and trainers seek glory and the pile of cash that can come with it.
The grueling 1 ½-mile race came down to Destin, broken and trained at Bridlewood Farm northwest of Ocala, and Creator, a Kentucky bred and trained horse, as they fought inch by inch toward the wire.
In the Kentucky Derby, Suddenbreakingnews was the victim of bad traffic but surged in the stretch faster than any of his rivals to finish fifth.
NEW YORK (AP) The finish was dramatic, even without a Triple Crown on the line.
The trainer credited his young jockey, who regularly rides on the NY circuit, for the win.
“I can not wait to walk by that wall [the Clubhouse display of past Belmont winners], and I’ll actually stop next year and look at the pictures for obvious reasons”, said Asmussen. He purchased a share in Creator in the days leading to the Belmont merely because he wanted to make sure the family members and friends he annually takes to the race would have a horse to root for. Nine have been decided by a neck, six by a head and three by a nose – one of which quashed a Triple Crown.
As Desormeaux attempted vainly to drag something worthwhile from a rank trip, Creator was given a ground-saving ride by Irad Ortiz. It was his third victory of the day and the 35th of the Belmont spring meet, which trails only his brother, Jose Ortiz.
Exaggerator, the 7-5 favorite in the field of 13, raced well back in the pack. He pointed out that after wins at Santa Anita and Pimlico, the colt had already cooled down by the time he returned to the winner’s circle. “I love watching the horses race”. He nearly made it but settled for second, with Japan-based Lani a closing third.
“It’s an awesome feeling and it’s very, very important for me”, said the jockey.
Asmussen, who will be inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame this coming August, added of Saturday’s race, “I thought it was a great race”. Previously, the race was run in a clockwise direction, in accordance with English custom….
“It would probably be better to take a different path with him”, Pletcher said of Gettysburg. The 1921 Belmont was the first to be run counter-clockwise – at 1 3/8 miles over the main course.
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Cavorting ($10.60) ran her way into an automatic berth in the BC Distaff by taking the $1 million Ogden Phipps by 2 1/2 lengths over Forever Unbridled.
