Birdstone wins 136th Belmont Stakes

Birdstone carries jockey Edgar Prado past tiring Smarty Jones in the last 70 yards of the 136th Belmont Stakes held on June 5, 2004 at Belmont Park in New York. Smarty Jones suffered the first defeat of his career and failed to become horse racing's 12th Triple Crown Champion.

• Official Order of Finish
• Official Payouts
• Belmont Stakes Horse Betting Tip Sheet for June 5, 2004
• Belmont Stakes Handicapping Report and Betting Recommendation

BIRDSTONE was unhurried while between horses on the first turn, swung out entering the backstretch, settled in the middle of the pack while racing five wide along the backstretch, took up chase after the winner from outside on the far turn, moved around EDDINGTON while gaining ground midway on the turn, circled five wide while launching his bid at the top of the stretch, drifted out in upper stretch, straightened his course when struck right handed nearing the furlong marker, closed steadily under steady right hand encouragement a sixteenth out then wore down SMARTY JONES in the final seventy yards.

SMARTY JONES moved up from outside to contest the early pace, pressed the pace while four wide entering the backstretch, surged to the front just after going a half mile, battled heads apart while continuing wide to the far turn, shook off ROCK HARD TEN to get clear leaving the three-eighths pole, extended his lead approaching the quarter pole, drifted out when struck left handed with the whip in upper stretch and again nearing the eighth pole, maintained a clear lead inside the furlong marker, fought gamely into deep stretch then yielded grudgingly while weakening in the late stages.

ROYAL ASSAULT checked in tight while being bothered by ROCK HARD TEN at the start, raced well back through the opening half mile, moved up a bit between horses along the backstretch, launched a mild rally three wide on the turn then failed to threaten while improving his position in the stretch.

EDDINGTON was hustled up from outside in the early stages, stalked the pace while five wide along the backstretch, raced just outside SMARTY JONES leaving the far turn, dropped back a bit leaving the three-eighths pole then steadily tired thereafter.

ROCK HARD TEN fractious behind the gate at the start, broke outward causing crowding leaving the gate, moved up between horses on the first turn, pressed the pace inside SMARTY JONES along the backstretch, made a run along the inside to threaten on the far turn, forced the issue to the turn then tired from his early efforts.

TAP DANCER never reached contention while five wide throughout. MASTER DAVID steadied along the inside on the first turn, lagged behind between horses entering the backstretch then failed to mount a serious rally while four wide throughout. CAIMAN showed brief speed along the inside, saved ground along the backstretch and faded before going a mile. PURGE rushed up while rank in the early stages, set the pace along the rail for nearly a half, dropped back on the far turn and steadily tired thereafter.

Official Order of Finish & Final Odds

Offical Payouts