Da'Tara wins Belmont to deny Big Brown Triple Crown

Da' Tara won the Belmont Stakes, spoiling favorite Big Brown's bid to become the first winner of horse racing's Triple Crown in 30 years.

Da' Tara, ridden by Alan Garcia, went wire-to-wire and won by 5 1/2 lengths in 2:29.65 with Denis of Cork second. There was a dead heat for third between Anak Nakal and Ready's Echo.

Big Brown didn't respond at the urging of jockey Kent Desormeaux in the final turn and was pulled up. The previously undefeated colt finished last in the 140th running of the 1 1/2- mile race, the longest of the Triple Crown events.

Before a crowd of 46,870 under overcast skies at Belmont Park, Rags to Riches lived up to her breeding and out-gamed favored Curlin by a head to become the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in 102 years and only the third Belmont Stakes winning filly. The previous winning fillies were Ruthless in 1867 and Tanya in 1905. Nineteen other fillies had previously run in the Belmont Stakes. With John Velazquez as her rider for the first time, Rags to Riches also gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first win in a Triple Crown race. Rags to Riches completed the mile and a half trip in 2:28.74 and paid her backers $10.60 to win.

Times in 5ths:  :243  :50  1:151  1:401  2:283

Times in 100ths:  :24.74  :50.14  1:15.32  1:40.23  2:28.74

Also ran: Hard Spun, C P West, Imawildandcrazyguy and Slew's Tizzy

Winning Trainer: Pletcher Todd A - Owner: Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick

The 2006 Triple Crown came to an end at Belmont Park on Saturday 10th, when 12 hopefuls went to the gate in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (G1), a 1 1/2 mile trip over the main track. 6-1 shot Jazil, who was fourth in the Derby last out, rallied from last early on after a slow pace of 47.36 and 1:37.53 to collar 5-1 Bluegrass Cat at the top of the stretch and pull away to win by 1 1/4 lengths, completing the distance over a fast track in 2:27.86. Sunriver was third and Steppenwolfer was fourth. Interestingly, all three races in the Triple Crown were won by the #8.

It was an exciting day at Belmont Park as Afleet Alex drew off to win by 7 lengths in the 2005 Belmont Stakes. He was bet down to odds of 1.15-1 as the favorite and was a very popular winner with the crowd. Nick Zito's Andromeda's Hero rallied for second and maiden Nolan's Cat shocked everyone, except perhaps his owners, by coming from last to take third. Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo flipped his palate and was unable to breath properly, fading to finish 7th.

After 12 tries trainer Nick Zito finally won the Belmont Stakes. It took 2:27 for a 36-1 Birdstone’s one-length victory to do what No horse has been able to do. Horse racing fans around the world watched the Undefeated horse smarty Jones loose for the first time in his racing carrier. Smarty Jones had won his first eight starts, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and was trying to become the first 3-year-old to go through the Triple Crown undefeated since Seattle Slew in 1977. For the tenth time in 26 years, a painful lesson was driven home. Winning the Triple Crown is just an extremely difficult task to accomplish.