Creator beats Destin by a nose at Belmont Stakes

Puerto Rico-born Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., pointed to the sky as he rode Creator to historic win at the 148 Belmont Stakes Saturday afternoon, June 11, 2016.

Keith Desormeaux had been hopeful that Exaggerator would have a big performance in the Belmont, and that would allow him to overtake Nyquist as the top 3-year-old runner.

Preakness victor Exaggerator, sent off as the 7-5 favourite, raced closer to the pace early but that cost him his late kick and he ended 11th.

Although the Creator team insisted Gettysburg was not there to act as a rabbit, he was the only obvious front-runner in the race, and so it proved as he led Destin around the wide Belmont oval, clicking off fractions of:24.09, :48.48, and 1:13.38 through six furlongs.

Cavorting earned the right to be called the leader of the East Coast older female handicap division with a convincing 2 1/2-length victory over Forever Unbridled and a star-studded field in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park. The time was 1:35.81 for the mile. A different horse won each leg — Nyquist took the Derby and Exaggerator won the Preakness.This was Creators day, a hot, sticky one at Belmont Park with temperatures in the mid-80s.

Destin took the lead entering the stretch and only just failed to hold on as Creator needed every inch of the 1m4f trip to get his nose in front.

“They slowed down in his face and I elected, instead of going any slower because I felt like I was crawling – for him it was crawling – so I hopped heels and let him set himself up on the outside”, the jockey said. Brody’s Cause won the Blue Grass Stakes in April and was seventh in the May 7th Kentucky Derby.

“Irad gave him a great trip”. “He saved a lot of ground going into the first turn”. He was later cleared by racing authorities in Kentucky and NY.

“It will look good on the plaque”, exulted Asmussen, referring to his induction into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in August.

Pletcher added that Gettysburg, who he trained up to a week ago, will remain in the Asmussen barn. “But I think it’s mostly that Belmont’s a deep, sandy surface, and he might have had a little trouble with it”. “When he got clear, he started running”.

Speed horse Gettysburg set the pace before Destin overtook him on the turn for home. Exaggerator, the 7-5 favorite in the field of 13, raced well back in the pack, appeared to make into contention but just didnt have his usual finishing kick. I was just a passenger.

On the third day, WinStar Farm created an opportunity for celebrity chef Bobby Flay.

Creator, who broke his maiden in his sixth try, came to to prominence when he won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

“I spoke to Elliott this morning and I think it’s best-I don’t think it’s a good look for him to come back to us”, said Pletcher, who also reported Destin and Stradivari came out of the race in good order.

Creator, sent off with 16-1 odds, returned $34.80, $14.60 and $9.40 for a $2 bet.

“A race without Gettsyburg goes 50 and change for a half mile”. She was tested to the wire in winning the Selene Stakes and should appreciate the 1-1/8-mile distance of the Oaks.