2003 BELMONT STAKES

HORSEPHOTOS/NTRA

Empire Maker wins the 135th running of The Belmont Stakes spoiling Funny Cide's attempt at the Triple Crown.

EMPIRE MAKER'S REDEMPTION IN THE EMPIRE STATE 

THE BELMONT STAKES OFFICIAL RESULTS

JUNE 7, 2003

BELMONT STAKES

GRADE I

BELMONT RACETRACK, ELMONT, NEW YORK

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS

ONE AND ONE-HALF MILES

MAIN TRACK: SLOPPY

EMPIRE MAKER

Winner

Belmont Stakes

Jockey: Jerry Bailey

Trainer: Robert J. Frankel

Owners: Juddmonte Farm

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH

 23.85, 48.70, 1:13.51, 1:38.05, 2:02.62, 2:28.26

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

June 7, 2003

Belmont Park - New York

Saturday, July 7, 2003 was shaping up to be a grand sports day for fans in the New York, Tri-State area.  In the span of six to seven hours three things were suppose to happen:

1.  Roger Clemens, the New York Yankee pitcher, would take the mound in search of his 300th career win at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

2. Funny Cide would then take to the track in search of thoroughbred racings first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.

3.  The New Jersey Devils would try to win game 6 and the Stanley Cup in Anaheim against the Mighty Ducks.

It was to be a day for the ages.  Except something happened along the way.  As if someone was sending the fans a sign the rain fell all day long dampening the hopes of every thoroughbred fan on the eastern seaboard.  And that set the tone for the whole day.  One by one the chips fell: Clemmons pulled in the 7th inning and the Yankees loose, then Funny Cide comes up short in his attempt at immortality and then the Devils skated a stinker on the West Coast.  Numbers one and three are good for the story, but the real story is what happened at Belmont this rainy afternoon.

It was suppose to be the coronation of New York's new adopted horse, Funny Cide.  Somewhere along the way maybe in the first turn of the main event the dream seemed to be dashed.  Funny Cide on the lead and a bit rank fighting Jose Santos down the backside in the Belmont was not the picture many envisioned in their fantasy finish for the 2003 Triple Crown.  And so it goes, Empire Maker and his connections reaped the spoils of a Grade 1 victory on racings biggest stage and will carry a budding rivalry into the fall most likely to be settled in The Travers at Saratoga.  Each camp (Funny Cide & Empire Maker) seems to think they have the best sophomore in the country, as well they should, and that mentality will make the fall racing campaign one for the history books as long as they don't spend too much time ducking each other. 

As for the fairy tale that is Sackatoga Stables, how can one not  have enjoyed the sudden rise of a small stable onto the world's biggest stage?  The whole story is a feel good trip that took us to racing at some of the country's biggest venues and they did not disappoint.  Congratulations goes out to the owners of Sackatoga Stable for not only their success but for the classy manner in which they campaigned their classic winner.  In a time where many in this industry become jaded by the common day to day battles that must be fought Sackatoga was a breath of fresh air and a pleasure to root for. 

As for the race itself, the Belmont was vindication to the connections of Empire Maker as he moved to the lead entering the stretch and reconfirmed to everyone watching that he is one of the best three-year-olds in training on the planet.  After being freshened for this start the son of Unbridled relished the distance and the sloppy going and held off a fast closing Ten Most Wanted for the classic victory.  The scene will shift now to either the Jim Dandy at Saratoga or The Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park both to be run the first week in August and then a rematch in The Travers.  The 2003 Triple Crown series did not disappoint as this crop of three-year-olds is quite deep considering some of the biggest stars coming into the year never made it to the spring classics, but some will be back in the fall to once again try and climb the ladder to the top off the class.

For the recap of the race see below.

After a good start Funny Cide found himself on the lead entering the clubhouse turn and pulled jockey Jose Santos through fractions of 23.85, 48.70, 1:13.51, 1:38.05 leading the field through the opening mile.  Empire Maker was content to sit off of the leader down the backside rating comfortably as Scrimshaw tried to keep pace in third.  Through the far turn Empire Maker drew closer taking the lead at the three-eighths pole shaking off  Funny Cide and then Jerry Bailey set him down for the drive to the wire.  In deep stretch, Empire Maker dug in and repelled  a late challenge by Ten Most Wanted at the wire for a three-quarter length win in a final time of 2:28.26.  Ten Most Wanted just ran out of room and had to settle for second as Funny Cide held on for third.  Empire Maker is a three-year-old colt owned by Juddmonte Farm, trained by Robert J. Frankel and was ridden by Jerry Bailey.