3 minute read
Yes another great win for Godolphin but that wasn't such a big surprise.
There were only 8 runners in this final leg of the Triple Crown and Essential Quality already had most of the boxes ticked. The win gave Brad Cox his first classic and the winner's sire Tapit his fourth Belmont winner. It wasn't all that easy as second placed Hot Rod Charlie put up a tremendous battle and there was a big gap back to Preakness winner Rombauer who was third.
Earlier in the card Drain The Clock won the Woody Stephens for Saffie Joseph and J-l Ortiz just beating favourite Jackie's Warrior.
The Brooklyn went to Lone Rock who came in to 7/2 and held off Tizamagician with Moretti third.
The Acorn went to the hot favourite Search Results from the Chad Brown yard with Javier Castellano the substitute jockey. Obligatory, by Curlin, ran second for Bill Mott and J-l Ortiz.
A few surprises in the Jackpocket Jaipur when Casa Creed 10/1 saluted for Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado and Chewing Gum on 28/1 also from the Mott yard ran second with J-l Ortiz on board. Bound For Nowhere was third.
The Ogden Phipps was without Swiss Skydiver and that left the coast clear for Letruska with J-L Ortiz again featuring in the finish – that's 2 wins and 2 seconds in the last 4 races. Bonny South was second and Shedaresthedevil third.
The Just A Game over 1600m on the turf so Godolphin veni, vidi e vinci taking the first two places with Althiqa ahead of Summer Romance, but both ran good races. Third place went to Daddy Is A Legend 12/1.
The Metropolitan went to Silver State 6/1 for Steve Asmussen and Ricardo Santana, with By My Standards next best on 9/1 and Mischevious Alex third. Knicks Go was disappointing.
Domestic Spending had saved up for the Manhattan defeating Tribhuven 16/1 and Gufo in the finish. Unimpressive runs from Colonel Liam and Channel Cat, the latter especially hard to catch.
