Tapwrit Rallies In Stretch To Win Belmont Stakes
NEW YORK (AP) — Tapwrit overtook favored Irish War Cry in the stretch to win the Belmont Stakes by two lengths, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his third victory in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Tapwrit ran 1 1/2 miles in 2:30.02 on his home track on Saturday. Ortiz's brother Irad won the race last year with Creator.
TAPWRIT doesn't tap out in the 149th #BelmontStakes with Jose Ortiz!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/31nR3JRlBb
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 10, 2017
Tapwrit finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness. Five of the last nine Belmont winners followed that same path.
Pletcher took two of the three Triple Crown races, having saddled Always Dreaming to victory in the Derby.
TAP TAP TAP... TAPWRIT WINS THE 149TH BELMONT STAKES Presented by @NYRABets!!! pic.twitter.com/uBcWrUQOYJ
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 10, 2017
Tapwrit paid $12.60, $6.50 and $5 at 5-1 odds.
Irish War Cry returned $4.70 and $3.90, while Patch, the one-eyed horse trained by Pletcher, paid $6.50 to show.
____
(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)