The final Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course is officially in the books, and the third leg of the Triple Crown will return to its regular home at Belmont Park next year. As always, I am sharing my photos from the festival in a series of blog posts. Once again, I had the privilege of shooting for The Saratoga Special. Click here to view all editions online. Second up in my series is the races, featuring photos of horses who ran in races during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
Opening day of the festival was New York-Bred Showcase Day, featuring several stakes for horses foaled in the Empire State. Sculcos Folly made it three stakes wins in a row with his impressive victory in the Mike Lee Stakes.
Alan Turing won the first running of the Commentator Stakes since the passing of its namesake last year. Volunteers from Old Friends at Cabin Creek, where Commentator spent his retirement, were on hand to watch the race one last time at the Spa before it returns to its regular home of Belmont Park next year.
Careless Whisper made her second start a winning one, finishing 10 1/2 lengths ahead of her competition.
It was Roja in the Grade II Intercontinental Stakes with Irad Ortiz, Jr. onboard.
Irad Ortiz returns on Roja.
Trainer Miguel Clément leads Tawny Port out to the track for the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup, which he won.
The field heads into the first turn in the Belmont Gold Cup.
Tawny Port takes the Belmont Gold Cup with Flavien Prat onboard, notching his first win since the 2023 John’s Call Stakes, also at Saratoga.
The field breaks from the gate in the Grade II Wonder Again Stakes, won by Fitz Right (#2) with Flavien Prat onboard.
Counting Stars pulls away from the field to win the Grade I Acorn Stakes with Irad Ortiz, Jr. onboard.
Irad gives Counting Stars a pet after her win.
Portfolio Duration (right) wins the Grade I New York Stakes with Flavien Prat onboard over Cankoura, who shipped in from France.
Champion Nitrogen nearly equals the track record for 1 1/8 miles with her decisive win in the Grade I Ogden Phipps Stakes with José Ortiz onboard, prompting trainer Mark Casse to point her towards the Grade I Whitney Stakes against males during the Saratoga summer meet.
Nitrogen looks to be on her way to a second championship this year.
Bonus Move (outside) defeats Ejtimaa in an optional claiming event with Paco López onboard on Belmont Stakes day.
French-bred Mandanaba heads out to the track with Clément Lecoeuvre onboard for the Grade I Just a Game Stakes, where she finished second. The filly is an Aga Khan Stud homebred who made the trip overseas with stablemate Cankoura.
The field heads down the stretch in the Just a Game, won by Classic Q (right).
Classic Q wins the Just a Game with John Velázquez onboard.
Multiple graded stakes winner Imagination heads onto the track with Flavien Prat onboard for the Grade III True North Stakes, where he finished fourth.
Fan favorite Book’em Danno warms up for the Grade III True North Stakes, which he won for the second year in a row with Paco López onboard.
From left, Book’em Danno, Bentornato, and Listenupshance battle down the stretch in a thrilling renewal of the True North.
2025 Grade I Jaipur Stakes winner Ag Bullet warms up for this year’s renewal with John Velázquez onboard, where she would finish second.
From left, Reef Runner, Ag Bullet, and John the Beer Man battle down the stretch in the Jaipur, won by the former with Irad Ortiz, Jr. onboard.
Englishman earns a whopping 114 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in the Grade I Woody Stephens Stakes with José Ortiz onboard.
Nysos pulls away from the field to impressively win the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap, also known as the Met Mile, with Flavien Prat onboard.
Nysos gallops down from his top level score.
Deterministic (right) takes the Grade I Manhattan Stakes with Kendrick Carmouche onboard for the second year in a row.
The field breaks from the gate in the Grade I Belmont Stakes under pouring rain. Winner Golden Tempo breaks from post 9.
The field heads down the stretch for the first time as the rain continues to fall. Golden tempo can be seen at left.
The field heads down for the second time, with Golden Tempo at center.
Commandment (front left) and Golden Tempo (front right) duel down the stretch.
Golden Tempo adds a second Classic win to his resume in the Belmont Stakes with José Ortiz onboard. Click here to view the online version of this issue of The Special.
José Ortiz shows his excitement as he gallops down aboard Golden Tempo.
As I do every year, I have made a “BelmontLapse” video, comprised of nearly 500 frames I shot during the festival. Click here to watch the video.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on X, Instagram and Facebook. All photos and videos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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