2011 Belmont Stakes Results: Where Does This Race Rank Against Last Year's?

It’s very difficult to pick whether the 2010 edition of the Belmont Stakes was better than the 2011 edition.

Let’s start off by establishing that I consider the field of 2011 slightly better than the 2010. We had the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners on a rematch, and last year we did not. And as for contenders three through 12—we had 12 starters as well last year—the 2011 edition was better.

In order to properly assess which race edition was better, we have to compare the races by how they were run, their result and compare exactly how we felt while watching it and afterwards.

On how they were run, last year we had the speed horse, First Dude, posting outside on gate 11 of 12, and this year, the speed horse, Schackleford, also had an outside post, gate 12 out of 12.

They both moved early to grab the lead and swing to the rail before getting to the first turn. They both had early-on stalkers that followed them well over the first six furlongs.

In 2010, the stalkers were Uptowncharlybrown, Interactiff and Game On Dude. This year, it was Ruler On Ice, Stay Thirsty and Santiva. All long shots, so this time you were just pretty much looking to the back of the field trying to find the favorites or the early movers.

Before moving along, let us remember that this year’s favorite was clipped at the beginning of the race, taking away his shot at winning. And last year, the favorite, Ice Box, was never a contender.

Up to here I see them pretty much even.

Talking back about the stalkers, last year, only Game On Dude made it to the stretch and challenged the pace setter. This year, the stalkers were the ones who put up most of the fight in the stretch and decided the race.

The eventual winner, Drosselmeyer, was running sixth early on and made his big move right before the stretch, passing by eventual second-place finisher Fly Down along the way.

This year, winner Ruler On Ice was in second place and not allowing the leader to go too far away up front. He also made his decisive move at the top of the stretch, and even when Brilliant Speed appeared to have taken the lead for good, he came back, beat him and held off Stay Thirsty in the process.

Both finishes were battled early in the stretch, but as is almost the norm in the Belmont Stakes, it is the final furlong which counts. So in the development of the race and the finishes, I see them pretty squared up.

The fractions on both races are very similar, although running on different track conditions.  In 2010, the fractions set were 24.15, 49.19, 1:14.94, 1:40.25 and 2:04.97 with a final time of 2:31.57.

This year, the fractions set were 23.92, 49.08, 1:14.51, 1:39.35 and 2:05.09 with a final time of 2:30.88. So there, you could argue this year was run harder down the stretch, and with that, your expectations and emotions grow. 

The emotional level on both races, I would say, was definitely more appealing in 2010. The reason for that is that in 2011, since you had already being riding the wave of the rematch, then watching a big upset unfold, you just stayed in front of your TV in awe.

With all this in mind, it makes for a difficult decision to rank one over the other. I rank them both even.