Drosselmeyer

Drosselmeyer, with the Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard, outran Nick Zito-trained Fly Down in the stretch to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday by 3/4 of a length.

The victory gives WinStar Farm its second win of the Triple Crown season. They also bred and own Super Saver, who won the Kentucky Derby by 2½ lengths in the slop on May 1. The victory is trainer Bill Mott’s first in a Triple Crown race.

Smith said he was told by Mott to let the horse find his rhythm. “It was almost as if you could close your eyes,” he said of Drosselmeyer hitting his stride. Smith, who had been 0 for 12 in the Belmont, secured a career Triple Crown with the victory.

First Dude, who was second in the Preakness Stakes, was third. Ice Box, the morning-line favorite who finished second in the Derby, finished sixth. Drosselmeyer paid $28 on a $2 bet to win.