Favorite Essential Quality won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday to give trainer Brad Cox his first win in a Triple Crown race.
Cox could get another from Mandaloun in the Kentucky Derby if Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit is disqualified.
Essential Quality, who went off as the 6-5 favorite, passed early leader Hot Rod Charlie around the final turn and held on to win the 1 1/2-mile $1 million race.
Hot Rod Charlie was second, Preakness winner Rombauer third and Known Agenda fourth.
ESSENTIAL QUALITY WINS THE BELMONT STAKES pres. by @NYRABets WITH @luissaezpty FOR @bradcoxracing!!!!! pic.twitter.com/YNb9OHjcVE
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 5, 2021
Essential Quality crossed the finish line first at the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crownhttps://t.co/znuwD3LyaV
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) June 5, 2021