Belmont Gold Cup 2015: Winner, Payouts and Order of Finish
If Irad Ortiz Jr. is as successful on Saturday as he was on Friday at Belmont Park, there's going to be some angry horse racing fans in the United States. The jockey won three stakes races, including the $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational aboard Innovation Economy. He now has great momentum heading into the Belmont Stakes where he will ride Mubtaahij and challenge Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah.
The Belmont Gold Cup is a treacherous, but thrilling, two-mile trek where timing and pace are key. Ortiz proved to have the balance as he allowed his stellar horse to show his skills down the stretch en route to a narrow win over Unitarian.
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Here's a highlight of the close finish from the Belmont Stakes' official Twitter account:
This is the payout information, per the NBCSN broadcast:
| 1 | Innovation Economy | $7.00 | $4.00 | $3.10 |
| 2 | Unitarian | $3.50 | $2.60 | |
| 3 | Dynamic Sky | $4.20 |
Per the broadcast, this was the official order of finish:
| 1 | Innovation Economy |
| 2 | Unitarian |
| 3 | Dynamic Sky |
| 4 | Reflecting |
| 5 | Morning Calm |
| 6 | Artic North |
| 7 | Tattenham |
| 8 | Manchurian High |
| 9 | Red Rifle |
| 10 | Comes the Dream |
| 11 | Diplomat |
Ortiz will be aboard Mubtaahij, a 14-1 underdog, per Odds Shark, out of the first post position in the 2015 Belmont Stakes. He and six other combinations of horse and jockey will be trying to prevent American Pharoah from becoming the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown.
When asked post-race whether he thought he could do it, Ortiz said: "I rode [Mubtaahij] this morning and he ran good. I have confidence in my horse."
As for the Belmont Gold Cup, Innovation Economy took his time for most of the race, remaining in striking distance while Red Rifle and Unitarian were early front-runners. Toward the midway point of the marathon, Ortiz began to position himself for the final move.
Innovation Economy displayed an amazing kick to finish the race and seal the win. Unitarian, to his and jockey Javier Castellano's credit, didn't go quietly. Noted for being a tough jockey to pass, Castellano attempted to make Ortiz's task a tough one. However, in the end, he couldn't hold Innovation Economy off.
The two-mile race is something most American horse racing fans hardly see, but it was exciting and different. It's something I wouldn't mind seeing more of in the United States.
With the majority of appetizers out of the way at Belmont Park, the sports world will brace itself for the main course. The media storm is set to descend on Elmont, New York, for Saturday's Belmont Stakes.
Can American Pharoah make history, or will Ortiz or another jockey and horse still his thunder?
We'll find out in about 24 hours.
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