2006 Belmont Stakes

The 2006 Belmont Stakes was the 138th running of the Belmont Stakes. The race was held on June 10, 2006, and was won by Jazil; it was his second victory in eight career starts. The winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes did not compete.[2]

138th Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, U.S.
DateJune 10, 2006
Distance1 1⁄2 mi (12 furlongs; 2,414 m)
Winning horseJazil
JockeyFernando Jara
TrainerKiaran McLaughlin
OwnerShadwell Stable
ConditionsFast[1]
SurfaceDirt

Pre-race

The 2006 Triple Crown series was marred by the injury of Barbaro, the brilliant winner of the Kentucky Derby, during the Preakness Stakes. In the following weeks, Barbaro had undergone surgery for a broken right ankle and was given a good chance at survival. On the day of the Belmont, the world's largest get-well card was set up for fans to sign – roughly 20,000 people did so.[3][4]

The field for the Belmont was further weakened when Preakness winner Bernardini was not entered in the race. The colt had three races in quick succession and his connections felt he needed a break.[5] It was the first time since 2000 that both the Derby and Preakness winners were missing from the Belmont. The last time before that had been in 1970.[6]

With the absence of Barbaro and Bernardini, the race was considered wide open. Trainer Todd Pletcher had a strong hand with Kentucky Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat and Peter Pan winner Sunriver.[5] Bob and John, who had won the Wood Memorial earlier in the year, had trained brilliantly at Santa Anita, while Steppenwolfer had put in a "spectacular" workout at Belmont. Jazil, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, was also given a good chance after his late-closing fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby despite having only won one race.[7]

Race description

Bob and John broke well and set a quick early pace, followed closely by High Finance and Deputy Glitters. Bluegrass Cat was not far behind the early leaders, while Jazil trailed the field. The horses maintained their positions down the backstretch, then Jazil and Bluegrass Cat started to make up ground together around the far turn. The early leaders started to fall back and Jazil pulled into the lead. Bluegrass Cat could not match Jazil's pace but was clearly second best. Sunriver made up ground late to get third place.[8]

It was the first Belmont win for all of Jazil's connections. "It is very hard to describe my feeling," said McLaughlin. "The people at Shadwell have been my biggest supporters for the last 12 years. It's great to win this race for your favorite people."[8]

Chart
Finish Program
Number		 Horse Margin
(lengths)		 Jockey Trainer Post Time Odds Winnings
1st 8 Jazil ​1 1⁄4 Fernando Jara Kiaran McLaughlin 6.20 600,000
2nd 9 Bluegrass Cat ​2 1⁄4 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 4.90 200,000
3rd 2 Sunriver ​1 1⁄4 Rafael Bejarano Todd Pletcher 6.00 110,000
4th 11 Steppenwolfer 5 Robby Albarado Daniel Pietz 4.80 60,000
5th 6 Oh So Awesome 2 Mike E. Smith James A. Jerkens 12.00 30,000
6th 3 Hemingway's Key ​4 1⁄2 Jeremy Rose Nick Zito 15.10
7th 1 Platinum Couple ​2 1⁄2 Jose L. Espinoza Joseph Lostritto 38.00
8th 4 Bob and John ​4 1⁄4 Garrett K. Gomez Bob Baffert 4.70
9th 12 Sacred Light ​6 1⁄2 Victor Espinoza David Hofmans 26.50
10th 5 High Finance ​11 1⁄4 Eibar Coa Richard Violette Jr. 10.40
11th 7 Deputy Glitters Edgar Prado Thomas Albertrani 12.20
DNF[lower-alpha 1] 10 Double Galore Mike Luzzi Myung Kwon Cho 46.75

Source: Equibase[1]
Times: ​1⁄4 – 0:23.02; ​1⁄2 – 0:47.36; ​3⁄4 – 1:12.14; mile – 1:37.53; ​1 1⁄4 – 2:02.69; final – 2:27.86.
Fractional Splits: (:23.02) (:24.34) (:24.78) (:25.39) (:25.16) (:25.17)[1]

Payout

138th Belmont Payout Schedule:[1]

Program
Number		 Horse Win Place Show
8 Jazil 14.40 6.70 4.70
9 Bluegrass Cat 6.40 4.70
2 Sunriver 6.10
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References
  1. "Chart of the 2006 Belmont Stakes". equibase.com. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  2. "Steady rally gives Jazil a victory in Belmont Stakes". sports.espn.go.com. June 11, 2006. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  3. "20,000 at Belmont Sign Giant Card for Barbaro". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  4. O'Meara, Brendan. "Triumph and Tragedy of Barbaro's Fateful Triple Crown Run, 10 Years Later". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  5. Finley, Bill (25 May 2006). "Without Bernardini, A Starless Belmont". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  6. Haskin, Steve. "Lacking Derby, Preakness Winners, Belmont Shaping Up as Competitive Race". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  7. Haskin, Steve. "Belmont Report: Baffling Belmont a Bettor's Bonanza". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  8. Mitchell, Ron. "18-Year-Old Jara Guides Jazil to Belmont Victory". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  1. Did Not Finish
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