This is the fourth post in my series showcasing photos I took during the second Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga while shooting for the Saratoga Special. In this post I will show photos of winning horses and connections celebrating after the race. Click here to see all the posts.
Trainer Mark Casse is all smiles after his horse Clear Conscience wins the Kingston Stakes on New York-Bred Showcase Day.
Jockey Dylan Davis and trainer Miguel Clément hug after Coach Case delivers the latter’s first win after taking over his late father Christophe Clément’s stable.
Trainer Will Walden (facing camera) and his father Elliott Walden hug after the former wins the Intercontinental Stakes with Pipsy.
Will Walden gives Pipsy a bath in the winner’s circle before she heads to the test barn.
Jockey Javier Castellano is all smiles after winning the Grade III Poker Stakes aboard Donegal Momentum.
Javier Castellano kisses his mount after his exciting victory.
I witness my first of jockey Frankie Dettori’s famed flying dismounts after he wins an allowance optional on Storm Miami in the pouring rain.
Jockey John Velázquez and Dorth Vader’s groom are all smiles after the George Weaver trainee wins her first grade 1 in the Ogden Phipps Stakes.
Parchment Party returns to the frontside covered in mud after winning the Grade III Belmont Gold Cup with John Velázquez onboard. The Bill Mott trainee was entered for main track only and didn’t even have a rider until shortly before the race.
Mark Casse and Dylan Davis celebrate after their win in the Grade I Acorn Stakes with La Cara. Most recently, the filly was entered in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks but had to scratch when her barn was quarantined.
Acacia Clément interviews trainer Cherie DeVaux after her filly She Feels Pretty wins the Grade I New York Stakes, the trainer and horse’s first grade 1 win at Saratoga.
She Feels Pretty and her connections are photographed in the winner’s circle following her win.
Dylan Davis gives Dynamic Pricing a pet after winning the Grade I Just A Game Stakes, his second grade 1 win on the card.
José Ortiz enjoys the moment after Nitrogen wins an off the turf Grade III Wonder Again Stakes. Most recently, the Mark Casse trainee was beaten by a nose in the Grade I Belmont Oaks in July and is now being pointed at the Grade I Alabama Stakes on the dirt in August.
Co-owner and groom Mark Rubenstein leads Book’em Danno out of the winner’s circle after his victory in the Grade III True North Stakes. Most recently, the Derek Ryan trainee won the Grade II Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap.
Frankie Dettori emphatically celebrates after winning his first Met Mile (Grade I Metropolitan Handicap if we’re being official) aboard Raging Torrent, upsetting favorite Fierceness. Sadly, the Doug O’Neill trainee recently had to be retired due to injury.
Frankie serves up another flying dismount after his big upset.
Raging Torrent is led out of the winner’s circle after his win.
Frankie holds up the Met Mile trophy in the winner’s circle.
Trainer Doug O’Neill talks to reporters about Raging Torrent’s win.
Patch Adams is led around the track before being brought to the winner’s circle after his win in the Grade I Woody Stephens Stakes with Luis Sáez onboard.
Patch Adams is led out of the winner’s circle.
Acacia Clément interviews trainer Brad Cox after Patch Adams’ win.
Sovereignty, with Junior Alvarado onboard, is led into the winner’s circle after winning the Belmont Stake.
Junior Alvarado throws flowers from the flower blanket in the air on his way into the winner’s circle.
Sovereignty’s biggest fan, Erma Scott (left), looks lovingly at the Bill Mott trainee as connections pose for a photo in the winner’s circle.
Sovereignty is led out of the winner’s circle to a slew of photographers (myself among them) from all directions.
Hot walker Yonibel Correa poses with the flower blanket.
Trainer Bill Mott, jockey Junior Alvarado and owner Godolphin’s Head of Bloodstock Michael Banahan hold up the August Belmont Trophy for photographers.
Mare Ag Bullet is led to the winner’s circle with John Velázquez onboard after beating the boys in the Grade I Jaipur Stakes, rescheduled to Sunday of the festival after an onslaught of rain on Friday and Saturday required races to come off the turf.
Ag Bullet is led out of the winner’s circle as a newly minted Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint contender.
Connections of Deterministic celebrate after his win in the Grade I Manhattan Stakes, among them Bill Farish (right) of Lane’s End Farm where Deterministic’s sire Liam’s Map stands.
Kendrick Carmouche returns overjoyed on Deterministic after notching his second career grade 1 win.
Deterministic is led into the winner’s circle.
Kendrick does the ceremonial flower toss as connections and fans look on.
Kendrick and trainer Miguel Clément embrace as Miguel’s mother Valérie looks on.
Miguel talks to reporters after notching his first top-level win.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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One thought on “Looking Back at the Belmont: The Celebrating”
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Nice!