Race favourite Exaggerator, remained in contention into the stretch despite his four-wide trip, but once it was clear his chances had gone, Kent Desormeaux wrapped up on him. He was closer to the lead than usual, but wound up 11th. The 13-horse field was the second-largest in the last 20 years of the Belmont, topped only by 14 in 2013. I thought Irad gave him a ideal trip. Before he was entered, he was sent from Pletcher’s barn to Creator trainer Steve Asmussen’s. “He won it by inches and he saved feet”.
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It was also a tactical masterpiece, as longshot Gettysburg, a late entry into the race, made all the running at a decent pace to set things up for his stable companion.
Four races after he made his first trip to the winner’s circle, he has entered racing history by winning the 148th edition of the Belmont Stakes in NY on Saturday. Destin took the lead as they entered the stretch and held it until the final stride to finish second, a nose behind the victor.
The Texan’s two best horses were the champions Curlin, who followed his 2007 Preakness Stakes win with second placing in the Belmont, and Rachel Alexander, who won the Preakness two years later.
On the third day, WinStar Farm created an opportunity for celebrity chef Bobby Flay.
Desormeaux lost the bid for a Triple Crown in 2008 when Big Brown slowed on the final turn and finished last. Destin, trained by Todd Pletcher, returned $9.40 and $6.20 and Lani paid $6.60.
Creator “was calm and I just waited for somewhere to go”, Ortiz said. He was later cleared by racing authorities in Kentucky and NY. Despite the tight nature of the photo finish, he celebrated as soon as they crossed the wire.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling”, Ortiz said.
After DiNapoli shot arrows at NYRA with his audit of their finances on Friday, Saturday’s card got off to a fitting start when a heavy favorite named Cupid finished last to a horse named Economic Model.
Desormeaux said Exaggerator will remain at Belmont through the end of the spring meet before heading upstate with the July 30 GII Jim Dandy and Travers on his agenda. “When I picked him up at the quarter-pole to try and win the race, there was nothing there”.
Creator, at 16-1 odds, paid $34.80, $14.60, $9.40 for a $2 bet.
After making an impressive Dubai debut at Meydan in February, Frosted – another grey son of supersire Tapit – could finish only fifth behind California Chrome when well fancied in the World Cup itself.
Lani, the temperamental Japan-based colt trained by Mikio Matsunaga and ridden by Yutaka Take, finished third.
Romans, still on the mend from a vehicle accident hours after the Derby last month, will send out Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine and Derby also-ran Brody’s Cause in a bid for his first Belmont win. It’s the pageantry of the classic race.
Ortiz would also top all North American riders in wins for the week, capturing 11 from his 36 mounts. “So appreciate what American Pharoah accomplished, and be patient until another comes along”.
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“The focus he showed when the pressure was on, I think that’s what ascended him to this level, from a horse who took a while to break his maiden”.
