HORSE RACING NEWS & RESULTS

By Doug Mittler SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ELMONT, New York (Ticker) - Fernando Jara enjoyed the ride of a lifetime.

Guided by the 18-year-old Jara, Jazil took control in the stretch en route to winning Saturday's 138th running of the watered-down Belmont Stakes.

Positioned perfectly throughout by the Panamanian teenager, Jazil settled in behind the leaders in what was a relatively quick pace for the 1 1/2-mile jaunt.

Jara asked for and received a response from Jazil, who surged past Bluegrass Cat on the outside on his way to giving trainer Kiaran McLaughlin his first Triple Crown victory and denying Todd Pletcher a victory.

"He ran by me like I was tied to the 3/8-pole," said jockey Michael Luzzi, who was aboard Double Galore.

Jazil, who finished in a dead heat for fourth with Brother Derek in the Kentucky Derby before skipping the Preakness, won with a time of 2:27.81. He paid $14.40, $6.70 and $4.70.

"I got a clear way and I went through," Jara said. "The trainer and the owner believed in me. I thought I had the race won after a mile."

Bluegrass Cat, with John Velazquez aboard, held on for second and returned $6.40 and $4.70. Sunriver paid $6.10 to show with Rafael Bejarano aboard.

"I was very confident the way he was weaving through," McLaughlin said of Jara. "Being involved in a Triple Crown is what we all dream about."

The Belmont Stakes lost plenty of its appeal due to the absence of injured Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and Preakness winner Bernardini. A crowd of 61,168 came to Belmont Park, well below the crowds of over 100,000 that normally show up when a Triple Crown is at stake. Filling the void was a jockey who came to the United States at 16 and now has a bright future.

"Growing up I always watched the jockeys (in the United States). One day I said I wanted to be there," said Jara, who listed Laffit Pincay and Jerry Bailey among his idols.

It marked the third time in the last four years that the Belmont winner ran in the Derby and skipped the Preakness, joining Empire Maker (2003) and Birdstone (2004).

Even with the depleted field, Pletcher again came up short in his quest for a Triple Crown victory. Pletcher won the Eclipse Award winner as the nation's top trainer the last two years, but both of his horses, Bluegrass Cat and Sun River, came up short on Saturday, leaving him winless in 21 Triple Crown attempts.

"If it were anyone besides me, I was rooting for Kiaran," said Pletcher, who like McLaughlin is a former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer D.Wayne Lukas. "He is one of my best friends, a great person, and I am very happy for him."

Velazquez, the nation's champion jockey in both 2004 and 2005, was back in the saddle after suffering a fractured shoulder blade and a cracked rib in a spill at Keeneland April 20.

"This race just goes to show you that it doesn't matter how old you are, if you have the horse and the patience, you can win," Velazquez said. "He rode a great race. He proved that he could ride with anyone."

Jazil gave Dubai's sheiks a second straight Triple Crown win. Jazil is owned by Sheik Hamdan's Shadwell Stable, while Bernardini is owned by Dubai's Sheik Mohammed.

The Belmont Stakes was run without the Derby and Preakness winner for the first time since 2000 and the first time in 36 years.

Steppenwolfer was fourth, followed by Oh So Awesome, Hemingway's Key, Platinum Couple, Bob and John, Sacred Light, High Finance, Deputy Glitters and Double Galore.