Tapwrit Wins Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park

The main event on a busy weekend of racing at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York - the third Jewel of the 2017 Triple Crown - the $1.5 million G1 Belmont Stakes was run Saturday, June 10. Some of the best three-year olds in the land took to Belmont Park's dirt track and raced 1 1/2 miles. Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert LaPenta's, Todd Pletcher trained 5-1 second choice Tapwrit bided his time and took over in the stretch, avenging a sixth in the Kentucky Derby with an impressive win. 5-2 favorite Irish War Cry was caught at the end and settled for second while another Todd Pletcher trainee and 12-1 outsider Patch got in for third, another 5 3/4 lengths back. Gormley was another 4 1/4 lengths back in fourth and was followed by Senior Investment, Twisted Tom, Lookin At Lee, Meantime, J Boys Echo, and Multiplier. Dallas Stewart trainee Hollywood Handsome was pulled up in the backstretch after jockey Florent Geroux lost his irons at the start. Japanese invader and morning line second choice Epicharis unfortunately scratched.