The 148th Belmont Stakes included a three-day racing festival, June 9-11, 2016 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race, at 1 ½ miles, is the last and longest leg of racing's Triple Crown. This year’s Belmont Stakes seemed like the third step in the “one-upmanship” contest. The heavily-favored Exaggerator captured America’s attention at the Preakness – defeating Kentucky Derby winner, Nyquist. But at the Belmont, it was Creator pulling ahead to defeat Exaggerator and wrap up the Triple Crown series.
Belmont Stakes Recap
By Phil Janack
Blocked behind a wall of horses with a quarter-mile to run, WinStar Farm and Bobby Flay's Creator weaved his way through traffic and used the length of the stretch to reel in Destin and win the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets by a nose Saturday at Belmont Park.
A 3-year-old gray or roan son of Tapit, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Creator became the first horse to win the Belmont Stakes from post position 13. Sent off at odds of 16-1, he hit the wire in 2:28.51 over a fast main track. It was the first Belmont Stakes victory for both jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Steve Asmussen.
Destin was second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of late-running Japanese import Lani. Grade 1 Preakness winner Exaggerator, the 7-5 favorite in a field of 13 3-year-olds, was in contention for a mile and a quarter before fading to finish 11th.
Celestine Dominates Just a Game in stakes-record time
By Dave Litfin
Celestine reaffirmed her fondness for the Widener turf with a scintillating victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $700,000 Longines Just a Game at Belmont Park, shattering the previous stakes record and missing the course mark by a mere .01 seconds.
Celestine broke alertly with Junior Alvarado and raced closest to pacesetter La Berma, who set fractions of 23.36, 46.13 and 1:09.63. After wresting command in the upper stretch, she moved away readily to report home by 3 ¾ lengths over rail-skimming second choice Recepta.
“It was a dream trip," said Alvarado. "With this kind of filly, she has speed and she can stalk a little bit, too. As soon as she broke, she broke very beautifully and after that I was just sitting on her. I waited until we turned for home to ask her. I couldn't ask for a better trip than that. It was like everything was just going perfect.”
Belmont Stakes Recap
By Phil Janack
Blocked behind a wall of horses with a quarter-mile to run, WinStar Farm and Bobby Flay's Creator weaved his way through traffic and used the length of the stretch to reel in Destin and win the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets by a nose Saturday at Belmont Park.
A 3-year-old gray or roan son of Tapit, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Creator became the first horse to win the Belmont Stakes from post position 13. Sent off at odds of 16-1, he hit the wire in 2:28.51 over a fast main track. It was the first Belmont Stakes victory for both jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Steve Asmussen.
Destin was second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of late-running Japanese import Lani. Grade 1 Preakness winner Exaggerator, the 7-5 favorite in a field of 13 3-year-olds, was in contention for a mile and a quarter before fading to finish 11th.
Celestine Dominates Just a Game in stakes-record time
By Dave Litfin
Celestine reaffirmed her fondness for the Widener turf with a scintillating victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $700,000 Longines Just a Game at Belmont Park, shattering the previous stakes record and missing the course mark by a mere .01 seconds.
Celestine broke alertly with Junior Alvarado and raced closest to pacesetter La Berma, who set fractions of 23.36, 46.13 and 1:09.63. After wresting command in the upper stretch, she moved away readily to report home by 3 ¾ lengths over rail-skimming second choice Recepta.
“It was a dream trip," said Alvarado. "With this kind of filly, she has speed and she can stalk a little bit, too. As soon as she broke, she broke very beautifully and after that I was just sitting on her. I waited until we turned for home to ask her. I couldn't ask for a better trip than that. It was like everything was just going perfect.”
