2008 Belmont Stakes

The 2008 Belmont Stakes was the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes. The race was won by Da'Tara, who led the race wire to wire. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/rah/news;_ylt=As_kjQIYR8pbxF.CR.j9aa4X47kF?slug=txbelmontstakes&prov=st&type=lgns Big Brown finishes last in Belmont - Horse Racing - Yahoo! Sports ] ] Da'Tara had 38-1 odds, making the win a monumental upset. [ [http://www.nyra.com/Belmont/Stakes/Belmont.shtml New York Racing Association - Belmont Park ] ] Big Brown, the favorite who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, finished in last place, a first for any Triple Crown hopeful.

Entrants included Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown. [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jbf6g33027lZlGjytt7nE_OBnQZgD90NLLD00 The Associated Press: Big Brown wins Preakness, sets up Triple Crown try ] ] A win by Big Brown would have marked the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Other entrants were Derby runners Denis of Cork, Tale Of Ekati, and Anak Nakal; Preakness runner up Macho Again and third place finisher Icabad Crane; and Peter Pan runners Ready's Echo and Tomcito. [ [http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=691263&category=SPORTS&newsdate=5/26/2008 Crack showing in Crown pursuit? - Page 1 - Times Union - Albany NY ] ] [ [http://msn.foxsports.com/horseracing/story/8181566/Big-Brown's-healing-begins FOX Sports on MSN - Horseracing ] ] The sire of Anak Nakal, Victory Gallop, is a Belmont winner, while Casino Drive has two Belmont-winning siblings.

Casino Drive was scratched from the race the morning of the race with an injured hoof. [http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown08/news/story?id=3430529 Big Brown rival Casino Drive scratched after workout] . Associated Press. June 7 2008.] He was the Peter Pan Stakes winner [ [http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/article/45218.htm Casino Drive Waits for Belmont | bloodhorse.com ] ] [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown08/news/story?id=3390277 ESPN - Casino Drive spices up Belmont Stakes picture - Horse Racing ] ] , and the half brother of 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches and 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil. A win by Casino Drive would have been the first time that siblings have won the same Triple Crown race in three consecutive years. Kent Desormeaux, the regular jockey for both Big Brown and Casino Drive, rode Big Brown while two-time Belmont winner Edgar Prado had been scheduled to ride Casino Drive. [ [http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/article/45446.htm Prado to Ride Casino Drive in Belmont | bloodhorse.com ] ]

The race was seen before 94,476 fans. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/06/07/belmont.stakes.ap/index.html?eref=T1 Da' Tara romps at Belmont; Triple Crown fave Big Brown is dead last] . Associated Press. June 7 2008.]

Payout

* $2 Exacta (6-4) Paid $659.00
* $2 Trifecta (6-4-8) Paid $3,703.00
* $2 Trifecta (6-4-9) Paid $3,954.00
* $2 Superfecta (6-4-8-9) Paid $48,637.00
* $2 Superfecta (6-4-9-8) Paid $47,309.00

Results

As provided by Equibase [http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/BEL060708USA11.pdf Results at Equibase.com] . Equibase.com. June 7 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.nyra.com/index_belmont.html Belmont Homepage]