Afleet Alex finished the 137th running of the Belmont Stakes ahead of the pack by seven lengths, becoming the 18th thoroughbred to win the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. In front of 62,274 fans, Afleet Alex passed eight horses on the final turn in route to running the 1½-mile course in a time of 2:28.6. Winner of eight of his last 12 starts, Afleet Alex came within a length of winning the Kentucky Derby and capturing the Triple Crown. Prior to this year, the Belmont had been the downfall of Triple Crown hopes for Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and War Emblem--all three won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, only to dramatically falter at Belmont.

Birdstone Wins Belmont

On Saturday, June 5th, Smarty Jones’ triple-crown bid came up short as Birdstone won by one length to win the 136th Belmont Stakes. The victory denied Smarty Jones of becoming the first triple-crown winner since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978. This is the second year in a row (Funny Cide, 2003) that a horse has won the first two legs of this triumvirate, but failed to close it out at Belmont.

With jockey Edgar Prado, Birdstone pulled out a come-from-behind victory down the stretch to take home the title. Trainer Nick Zito finally won the “The Test of Champions” with Birdstone, breaking his Belmont Stakes jinx. Zito won the 1991 Derby with Strike the Gold as well as the 1994 “Run for the Roses” with Go for Gin. He also took the 1996 Preakness with Louis Quatorez, but had previously never won the elusive Belmont Stakes.

On Thursday, June 5th, the post-positions for the 135th running of the Belmont Stakes were announced. New York-bred horse Funny Cide, competing to be the first horse in twenty-five years to capture the Triple Crown, drew the unfavorable number 4 spot. From 1905-2002, the number 4 post-position has come out victorious only 9.1% of the time, the lowest percentage among the top six slots. However, this does not seem to faze Funny Cide’s jockey, Jose Santos, who has stated that strategic racing and the small field will have more of an impact then post-position. “Yes, it's a small field, but remember that anything can happen when they open the door," said Santos, who is coming off consecutive victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. "I have a very fast horse and he has been trained very well. I'm confident, but we have not done it yet." Funny Cide and Santos will have a shot at history on Saturday, June 7th at 6:30pm at the Belmont Race Track in Elmont, NY.

For further information, including ticket sales for this event, please call 1-888-285-5961 or 718-641-4700.

On May 17th, New York-bred Funny Cide shocked the horseracing world by winning the Preakness Stakes with a commanding 9 ¾ lengths triumph. Funny Cide will now return home to New York where he will attempt to become the first Triple Crown Winner in 25 years with a win at the Belmont Stakes. Funny Cide, a gelding, or male neutered horse, will also try to become the first-ever gelding horse to win the Triple Crown. Fresh off his victory in the Kentucky Derby, Funny Cide finished the Preakness in 1:55.61. A Triple Crown is now within reach for Funny Cide and there is no better place to reach this milestone than New York.

For further information, including ticket sales for this event, please call 1-888-285-5961 or 718-641-4700.