Essential Quality atoned for Kentucky Derby disappointment out-duelling Hot Rod Charlie down the home stretch to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, bringing the curtain down on a tumultuous year for U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.
The favorite to win May's Kentucky Derby, Essential Quality came home fourth at Churchill Downs but this time got a perfect ride from jockey Luis Saez.
It was the fifth win in six career races for Essential Quality who is owned by Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum."Today we make the history," said Saez. "In the Kentucky Derby we were so confident that we were going to win that race, he was ready but we had a little unlucky start.
While the 1-1/2-mile test featured a quality eight horse field, the talk in the run up was more focused on who would not be in the Belmont Park start gate. The Belmont Stakes win also comes with controversy with owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum under scrutiny from human rights groups over charges that the Dubai ruler orchestrated the disappearance of his own daughter.
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