Creator topples favourite Exaggerator to win 148th Belmont Stakes
CREATOR caused an upset to win the 148th Belmont Stakes on Sunday morning on New York. The three-year-old colt produced a strong late finish to down Destin on the line with Japanese stayer Lani taking third place.
The Steve Asmussen-trained colt was having just its fifth career start and was able to put a poor performance in the Kentucky Derby behind it. The son of Tapit finished 18.5 lengths behind Nyquist, but it did win the Group 1 Arkansas Derby by 1.3 lengths over Belmont Stakes rival Suddenbreakingnews.
The talented grey relished the fast track conditions before a deluge of rain hit the Belmont Track, giving future hall-of-fame trainer Steve Asmussen his third Belmont Stakes after he trained Rachael Alexandra in 2009 and Curlin in 2007.
“There are just a couple of chances to prove you are a classic winner,” Asmussen said who praised the ride by Irad Ortiz Jr.
“He saved yards and won by inches. Irad gave him a dream trip. The horse ran super.”
Ortiz provided a patient run whilst some of the favoured runners were pressing too early.
“He was calm, and I just waited for somewhere to go,” Ortiz said. “When he got clear, he started running.”
One of the horses which failed to make any impression was $2.30 favourite Exaggerator which looked the standout bet after its win in the Preakness Stakes. The three-year-old colt was close to pace, but couldn’t find its usual sprint when it counted.
Champion jockey Kent Desormeaux offered no excuses for his mount which will likely now head out for a much-deserved break in the paddock.
“By the time we got to the eighth pole, he was stepping on his tongue,” Desormeaux said. “I couldn’t have dreamt of a smoother ride.
Exaggerator tried to pick a path between runners in the straight, but ultimately finished a disappointing 11th position. Desormeaux didn’t think the lack of clear running room in the straight made any difference to the result.
“I don’t know if there would have been any difference in the outcome,” he said. “When I picked him up at the quarter-pole to try and win the race, there was nothing there.”