Ruler On Ice stuns top field at Belmont
Source: Agencies |
June 13, 2011, Monday
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RULER On Ice posted a huge upset in the 143rd running of the US$1 million Belmont Stakes, taking the lead from Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford in the straight and winning the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Shackleford led from the start at Elmont, New York, on Saturday, but when the field of 12 turned for home in the 2,400-meter Belmont, 24-1 long shot Ruler On Ice took over under Jose Valdivia Jr to win, three-quarters of a length ahead of Stay Thirsty.
Brilliant Speed grabbed third, one and a half lengths behind the runner-up, after a late charge down the center of a sloppy Belmont Park track.
The much-hyped contest between Shackleford and Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom never materialized. Shackleford finished fifth, while Animal Kingdom got off to a terrible start, never got into contention and finished sixth.
Jockey John Velazquez nearly fell off Animal Kingdom when the horse was bumped on his right side by Mucho Macho Man just after the start. He somehow managed to get his left foot back into the stirrup, but by then it was too late. Animal Kingdom had dropped more than 13 lengths off the lead, and did well to finish in the middle of the pack.
Elated Valdivia
An elated Valdivia, riding in his first Belmont, described the final seconds before crossing the finish line.
"I'm a couple of yards from the wire and I'm thinking, 'Oh my god, oh my god, I'm going to win the Belmont'," the Peru-born jockey said.
Ruler On Ice's victory makes it three years in a row a different horse has won each of the Triple Crown races, and next year it will be a 33-year gap since Affirmed swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 1978.
Ruler On Ice, trained by New Jersey-based Kelly Breen, did not run in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. The 3-year-old gelding didn't have enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for the Derby, but vindicated his trainer's faith by defeating a field that included the first seven finishers in the Run for the Roses.
The winning time for the longest race in the Triple Crown was a slow 2:30.88.
Despite recording two wins and three minor placings from his six previous career starts, Ruler On Ice, who paid US$51.50 for a US$2 win bet, was still an outsider.
Shackleford led from the start at Elmont, New York, on Saturday, but when the field of 12 turned for home in the 2,400-meter Belmont, 24-1 long shot Ruler On Ice took over under Jose Valdivia Jr to win, three-quarters of a length ahead of Stay Thirsty.
Brilliant Speed grabbed third, one and a half lengths behind the runner-up, after a late charge down the center of a sloppy Belmont Park track.
The much-hyped contest between Shackleford and Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom never materialized. Shackleford finished fifth, while Animal Kingdom got off to a terrible start, never got into contention and finished sixth.
Jockey John Velazquez nearly fell off Animal Kingdom when the horse was bumped on his right side by Mucho Macho Man just after the start. He somehow managed to get his left foot back into the stirrup, but by then it was too late. Animal Kingdom had dropped more than 13 lengths off the lead, and did well to finish in the middle of the pack.
Elated Valdivia
An elated Valdivia, riding in his first Belmont, described the final seconds before crossing the finish line.
"I'm a couple of yards from the wire and I'm thinking, 'Oh my god, oh my god, I'm going to win the Belmont'," the Peru-born jockey said.
Ruler On Ice's victory makes it three years in a row a different horse has won each of the Triple Crown races, and next year it will be a 33-year gap since Affirmed swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 1978.
Ruler On Ice, trained by New Jersey-based Kelly Breen, did not run in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. The 3-year-old gelding didn't have enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for the Derby, but vindicated his trainer's faith by defeating a field that included the first seven finishers in the Run for the Roses.
The winning time for the longest race in the Triple Crown was a slow 2:30.88.
Despite recording two wins and three minor placings from his six previous career starts, Ruler On Ice, who paid US$51.50 for a US$2 win bet, was still an outsider.
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