ELMONT, N.Y.—Essential Quality beat Hot Rod Charlie in a thrilling stretch duel to win Saturday’s Belmont Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths, giving trainer Brad Cox his first victory in a Triple Crown race. Preakness winner Rombauer finished third.
Ridden by Luis Saez, Essential Quality covered the 1 ½-mile race in 2:27.11. A $2 win bet on Essential Quality paid $4.60.
“That was a long way around there, a mile and a half,” Cox said. “But that was exciting. Luis did a fantastic job of getting him into position and [the horse] showed his stamina late.”
In the coming weeks, Cox could be celebrating a Kentucky Derby win as well. Derby winner Medina Spirit is expected to be disqualified after a split sample confirmed a positive drug test for the Bob Baffert-trained colt. Cox also trains Mandaloun, the second-place finisher in the Derby. If Medina Spirit is disqualified, Mandaloun would be elevated to first place.
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