Tough Tapwrit overhauls Irish War Cry in last leg of Triple Crown

Report: USA, Saturday

Belmont Park: Belmont Stakes (Grade 1) 1m4f | dirt | 3yo

A Belmont Stakes that felt almost more notable for those who were missing than those who actually turned up went to Tapwrit as the Todd Pletcher-trained colt outstayed Irish War Cry to claim a gritty victory in the final leg of the Triple Crown by two lengths under Jose Ortiz.

The grey son of champion sire Tapit duly became his trainer's third winner of the race after Rags To Riches (2007) and Palace Malice (2012); the victory also means Pletcher won two legs of this year's Triple Crown following the Kentucky Derby triumph of Always Dreaming.

With neither Always Dreaming nor Preakness victor Cloud Computing in the line-up, the so-called 'Test of a Champion' looked distinctly lacking in champions beforehand – a situation hardly eased when last year's leading two-year-old Classic Empire was ruled out with a foot abscess a few days before the New York Classic.

Japanese-trained Epicharis also joined the ranks of absentees on the morning of the race when the vets deemed him unfit to run after lameness issues, which left Graham Motion-trained Irish War Cry as 5-2 favourite in an 11-runner field.

Rajiv Maragh set out to make all on the market leader and seemed to be travelling comfortably as he galloped around the racecourse known as the 'Big Sandy'. Most of his rivals were in trouble as they turned for home but Tapwrit emerged from just off the pace with a strong challenge.

As the pair pulled well clear of the remainder, Tapwrit wore down his opponent to win the $1.5 million contest, in which he was returned second favourite at nearly 11-2; he stopped the clock at 2m30.02s. Taking third, nearly six lengths adrift of the runner-up, was the winner's stablemate Patch.

"Tapwrit was getting a beautiful trip," Pletcher said. "It was everything we talked about in the paddock before the race. We were hoping he had enough when it came to crunch time. It looked like Irish War Cry still had something left, but the last sixteenth, he dug down deep."

Pletcher's Triple Crown dreams became unglued when Always Dreaming flopped in the Preakness only two weeks after his Derby triumph. Pletcher rarely runs horses back as quickly as that, habitually favouring the sort of break he had to prepare Tapwrit for the Belmont, where he is based.

"I think that's always an advantage," admitted the trainer, who is set to run American Patriot in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"We felt like with the five weeks in between, and with the way this horse had trained, that he had a legitimate chance," added Pletcher. "I think that's always an advantage."

'Unbelievable feeling'

Winning jockey Ortiz was emulating his brother Irad, who won last year's Belmont on Creator.

"It's an unbelievable feeling that I can't explain," said Ortiz, who was winning his first Triple Crown race. "I'm very happy right now. It's very exciting but it's got to sink in. The distance – I was sure he could handle it. I always liked him and had a lot of faith in him."

A $1.2m yearling bought at Fasig-Tipton, Tapwrit is owned by a partnership comprising Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert LaPenta. After winning the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby in March, he was sixth in the Kentucky Derby.

Belmont Stakes result