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. Third up in my series is the celebrating, featuring photos of connections enjoying their wins during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
A Little At First’s groom flashes a big smile as he leads the Horacio De Paz trainee out of the winner’s circle after an allowance win. If anyone knows this groom’s name, please let me know!
Junior Alvarado grins big atop Commentator Stakes winner Alan Turing.
The trophy presentation is made for the Commentator Stakes. JoAnn Pepper, in the black shirt, is the owner and manager of Old Friends at Cabin Creek, where Commentator spent his later years.
Irad Ortiz, Jr. gives Roja a pet after winning the Grade II Intercontinental Stakes.
Flavien Prat is all smiles after winning the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup aboard Tawny Port.
Terry Finley (back), CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, hugs influencer Griffin Johnson after their horse, Counting Stars, won the Grade I Acorn Stakes.
Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. celebrates another Grade I victory as Terry and Debbie Finley help lead Counting Stars.
Flavien Prat points to the cameras as he celebrates atop Grade I New York Stakes winner Portfolio Duration.
Flavien Prat throws the flowers from his New York Stakes flower blanket in the air.
Champion Nitrogen is led into the winner’s circle following her win in the Grade I Ogden Phipps Stakes.
Nitrogen and connections pose for their photo in the winner’s circle.
Exercise rider Electra Boone gives Nitrogen a pet after her win.
Jockey Javier Castellano pumps his fist aboard Buttah in the winner’s circle after winning
Classic Q is draped in a beautiful flower blanket after winning the Grade I Just a Game Stakes with John Velázquez onboard.
Jockey Paco López waves his crop as he enters the winner’s circle aboard Book’em Danno, repeat winner of the Grade III True North.
Irad Ortiz, Jr. gives Reef Runner a pet after winning the Grade I Jaipur Stakes.
Irad is all smiles aboard Reef Runner.
Englishman is led into the winner’s circle with José Ortiz onboard after romping in the Grade I Woody Stephens Stakes.
Connections of Englishman pose with the Woody Stephens trophy, among them jockey José Ortiz and trainer Cherie DeVaux (front, second from right).
Nysos is led into the winner’s circle with Flavien Prat onboard after taking the Grade I Met Mile in decisive fashion.
Flavien Prat flashes a smile aboard Nysos in he winner’s circle.
Jockey Kendrick Carmouche throws the flowers in the air after winning the Grade I Manhattan Stakes onboard Deterministic for the second year in a row.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux steps out onto the track after her horse, Golden Tempo, won the Belmont Stakes.
José Ortiz waves to fans aboard Golden Tempo, ponied by outrider Miguel Gutiérrez.
Co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito pumps her fist as Golden Tempo is led into the winner’s circle by groom José Hernández.
Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable, co-owner and co-breeder of Golden Tempo, holds up the August Belmont Trophy.
José Ortiz and family hoist the trophy.
Cherie DeVaux hoists the trophy. Click here to read the online edition of this issue of The Horsemen’s Journal.
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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