2008 Belmont Stakes Results

Jockey Alan Garcia rode Da’ Tara to a surprising victory at the 2008 Belmont Stakes. Trained by top trainer Nick Zito, Da’ Tara’s win at the third leg of the triple crown dashed the hopes of Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown.

Crowd favourite, Big Brown won the Preakness and Kentucky Derby races and a win at the Belmont Stakes would have been the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. However Big Brown did not run his best race and came in at last place while Da’ Tara shocked the crowds with a dazzling win at the 104th running of the Belmont Stakes.

Big Brown has since retired to a stud farm in Kentucky after pulling out of the 2008 Breeders Cup due to injury in a workout session before the race.

Derby runner Denis of Cork came in at second place, ridden by Robby Albarado, and trained by David Carroll.

Nick Zito’s second entry into the 2008 Belmont Stakes, Anak Nakal took third place in a dead heat along with Ready’s Echo – trained by Todd Pletcher. Anak Nakal showed a lot of potential and is a firm hopeful for the 2009 Belmont Stakes, as he is also sired by a previous Belmont winner, Victory Gallop.

Winner of the Peter Pan Stakes, Casino Drive suffered a injury to the hoof, and was scratched from the race list. Trained by Kazuo Fujisawa, Casino Drive is also the half brother of Rags to Riches – the 2007 Belmont Stakes winner.

2008 was an exciting year for the Belmont Stakes, as they said goodbye to one of the top racehorses in the world, and welcomed a new bunch of winners from top trainers such as Nick Zito and Todd Pletcher. Who do you think will emerge victorious at the Belmont Stakes, or even manage to clinch a Triple Crown?