Preakness winner Early Voting was sidelined, likely to prepare for the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. No horse ran all three Triple Crown legs this year, heightening concern that three races in five weeks may be too tight a schedule to keep the horses healthy. Not much of a surprise, given the shaky weather forecast and the lack of a Triple Crown contender. The stands weren’t nearly as packed as when the grounds hosted a 120,139 fans in 2004. ![]() Still, fans crammed into cars on the Long Island Rail Road and breathed life into the 117-year-old track with floral headwear, pastel suits and the unmistakable musk of booze and cigars. The race marked a return to form for Belmont itself after the 2020 Stakes were closed to the public due to the pandemic and the 2021 event was limited to 11,238 spectators by virus restrictions.Ĭapacity was capped again, this time at 50,000, because of congestion concerns stemming from the newly built arena next door for the NHL’s New York Islanders. It’s the fourth straight year the Triple Crown races were won by three different horses, a first for the sport since 1926-29. He found it Saturday, winning the 154th running of the $1.5 million race. Just like Rich Strike, Mo Donegal was at the back of the pack at the Derby, but the colt didn’t have enough kick at Churchill Downs. “I think we just made a tactical error,” Reed said. Reed said the team encouraged jockey Sonny Leon to try pushing Rich Strike from the outside, but the horse kept trying to get back inside - where he made a late charge past 19 horse to win at Churchill Downs. ![]() Rich Strike was the first healthy Derby winner to skip Pimlico since 1985. Rich Strike, a stunning Kentucky Derby winner at 80-to-1 odds, was sixth after owner Rick Dawson and trainer Eric Reed held him out of the Preakness with an eye on Belmont. Nest - who nearly became Pletcher’s second filly to win Belmont after Rags to Riches - paid $5.30 and $4.10, and Skippylongstocking returned $5.60 to show. We the People led for much of the race, but Mo Donegal and Ortiz took charge coming out of the final turn. Mo Donegal entered the gate the betting favorite at 5 to 2. Mo Donegal beat a wide-open, eight-horse field without a clear favorite - We the People, a monster in the mud, opened at 2 to 1 amid a rainy forecast but reached 7 to 2 by race time as showers held off. Pletcher, who lives on Long Island, adds another Belmont title following wins with Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013 and Tapwrit in 2017. I know Todd thought he could get a strong last quarter mile, and he sure did.”ĭonegal rounded the 1 1/2-mile track in 2 minutes, 28.28 seconds, ahead of Nest and Skippylongstocking. “When he turned for home, I was like, forget about it. “To be honest with you, we were a little confident going into the race today,” Donegal Racing CEO and co-owner Jerry Crawford said.
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