Drosselmeyer takes Belmont Stakes victory
Bill Mott won the 1996 Dubai World Cup with the mighty Cigar, but the trainer reached new territory at Belmont Park.
Mott had never won a Triple Crown race but broke his duck when Drosselmeyer took the final race of the trilogy, the 142nd Belmont Stakes.
First Dude, breaking from a wide draw in 11, showed the early speed to grab the rail into the first turn, as Mike Smith – riding Drosselmeyer for the first time – had the colt in about sixth on the outside and Icebox, the favourite further back in ninth.
First Dude was still in front at the top of the home stretch but the challengers were stacking up behind him. Game On Dude was the first to try for the prize but it was Drosselmeyer, running widest of all, who collared the leader inside the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length from Fly Down, who caught First Dude in the final strides. Ice Box never fired, and finished ninth.
Mott's best previous finish in a Triple Crown race had been a second with the longshot Vision and Verse in the 1999 Belmont.
“He always keeps coming,” he told the Daily Racing Form. “He had been closing going a mile and an eighth. He had some trips, but he didn't get the golden trip. He got a nice, smooth trip today. He circled horses, and kept the momentum going.”
Christophe Clement was expected to win the Grade One Manhattan Handicap, the only surprise was the horse he won it with.
Gio Ponti, the winner of the race last year, was a hot favourite but he had little luck in running and Ramon Dominguez found himself trying to weave a path between runners, finally getting a run up the rail. By comparison Cornelio Velasquez had a clear run on the outside on Winchester, who stormed down the middle of the track to catch Gio Ponti in the final strides to win by a half-length, with Expansion third.
“They both ran great,” Clement said. “Gio Ponti ran an amazing race. Winchester ran the race of his life. I just always thought that Winchester, as he comes from so far out of it, that softer ground may have give him a better chance. Today, for some reason they've been closing on the fast turf and he ran a superb race.”
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