Essential Quality, the favorite heading into the 153rd
Belmont Stakes on Saturday, came out on top to win the final leg of the Triple Crown after a close race.
Hot Rod Charlie took an early lead in the 1.5 mile long race but Essential Quality rounded the final turn to win by just a length-and-a-half. That was a long way around there a mile a half but it was exciting, trainer Brad Cox said. It looked like the horse on the inside, he still had run left. I knew it was going to be a battle down the line.
Preakness winner Rombauer finished third while Known Agenda, who was ridden by Jose Ortiz after brother Irad Ortiz Jr. was trampled in a race earlier this week, finished fourth.
Althiqa Completes Godolphin, Appleby Exacta In Just A Game Stakes Sponsored by:
Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel [IRE]) and jockey Mike Smith win the Just a Game (I) at Belmont Park 6/5/21. Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Owner: Godolphin Stable
It was clear in the stretch of the Grade 1 Just A Game Stakes that a gray horse under the Godolphin blue from the yard of trainer Charlie Appleby was going to end up in the winner s circle. After slipping past her stablemate through a tight rail seam, Althiqa took the honors over pacesetter Summer Romance.
Althiqua, a 4-year-old British-bred daughter of Dark Angel, was tucked in near the back of the pack by jockey Mike Smith during the opening jumps, while Summer Romance shot out to a multi-length lead. Zofelle followed Summer Romance from the inside post, along with New York Girl, but the leader was ahead by several lengths after the opening quarter in :23.43 seconds.
Essential Quality adds Belmont Stakes to memorable haul for Godolphin
Sun 6 Jun 2021
Essential Quality put the seal on a day to remember for Godolphin with victory in the Belmont Stakes in New York on Saturday night.
Just hours after the Charlie Appleby-trained Adayar stormed to glory in the Cazoo Derby at Epsom, Brad Cox’s Essential Quality produced a high-class performance of his own to land the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Having lost his unbeaten record when a close fourth in the Kentucky Derby, the grey Tapit colt was given a fine ride by Luis Saez who was alive to the brisk pace set by Hot Rod Charlie and Rock Your World, wary of not leaving his mount too much to do.
ELMONT — Remember loud? I do. Now. I think a pack mule ridden by a parakeet could've won the 153rd Belmont Stakes on Saturday, and the crowd would still have…
The Belmont Stakes win gives trainer Brad Cox his first win in a Triple Crown race
Cox could get another Triple Crown win from Mandaloun, who placed second in the Kentucky Derby, if Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit is disqualified
Medina Spirit failed a post-Derby drug test which showed double the permitted presence of the steroid betamethasone
The Belmont race was run without a horse trained by Baffert, who was banned by the New York Racing Association
Churchill Downs suspended Baffert for two years after a second sample from the Derby came back positive for betamethasone.
Belmont Park allowed the mostly maskless fans after New York State removed the cap on attendance