Sun shines for Belmont Stakes race
Photo credit: David Pokress | Sisters Jacqueline , left, and Lauren Wagner of Astoria made their hats for the Belmont. (June 5, 2010)
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2010 Belmont Stakes
There was concern Friday about yesterday's weather forecast, which called for a 40- to 50-percent chance of thunderstorms beginning well before 11:35 a.m., first post for Belmont Park's 13-race card. At 6:35 p.m., post time for the Belmont Stakes, the sun was still shining, the temperature was in the mid-80s, and no rain had fallen, which was a major highlight for the New York Racing Association.
Midway through the afternoon, an umbrella blew down the stretch of the main track, but sunburn and staying hydrated were the main problems for the crowd of 45,243. Upstate New York was not so lucky, because there was a tornado watch for 15 counties, including the Albany area, through 8 p.m.
Hometown heroes
New York Police Department officers Wayne Rhatigan, riding Miggs, and Pam Duffy, on Dirk, led the post parade for the Belmont. The two acted quickly May 1 when they were notified of a suspicious vehicle in Times Square, which turned out to contain a car bomb. The device was disarmed, preventing possible deaths, injuries and property damage to a Manhattan landmark.
The undercard
D'Funnybone, trained by Rick Dutrow, rallied for Edgar Prado to beat Discreetly Mine by 3¼ lengths in the Grade II Woody Stephens Stakes, the start of an all-stakes Pick 6 with a $129,962 carryover. D'Funnybone paid $4.40 after running 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.64 . . . Proviso ($4.20) held off Phola by a half-length in the Grade I Just A Game Stakes for fillies and mares. Bill Mott trains the winner, who did a mile under Mike Smith on a firm Widener turf course in 1:34.09 . . . Bribon ($7.50) rallied wide with Garrett Gomez to take the Grade II True North Handicap by 1½ lengths. Todd Pletcher trains the 7-year-old gelding, who ran 6 furlongs in 1:09.63.
Winchester ($44.80) rallied wide for Cornelio Velasquez to defeat even-money Gio Ponti by half a length to give trainer Christophe Clement a 1-2 finish in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap. The 5-year-old son of Theatrical ran 1¼ miles in a quick 1:59.46 on a firm inner turf. He earned $240,000 for Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone, who own and bred him.
The Belmont upset by 13-1 shot Drosselmeyer created a Pick 6 carryover of $930,495 for Wednesday, when Belmont Park reopens.
Across the pond
Compared to England's Epsom Derby, the 143-year-old Belmont Stakes is a relative newcomer. Epsom Downs staged "the Blue Riband of the Turf" for the 241st time Saturday, when 6-1 Workforce dominated by 7 lengths in the 1½-mile race. Sir Michael Stoute trained his fifth Derby winner, and Ryan Moore rode his first. Front-runner At First Sight, a 100-1 shot, was second to Workforce, who made only his third career start. Aidan O'Brien trains the runner-up and Vermeer, the 2-1 favorite who finished fourth.
