Drosselmeyer wins Belmont in close finish

ELMONT, N.Y., June 5 (UPI) -- Long shot Drosselmeyer turned it on down the stretch, coming from behind Saturday to win the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes by 3/4 of a length.

Drosselmeyer took the lead with less than 100 yards to go and was barely able to hold off Fly Down, while First Dude ended third and Game On Dude tired down the stretch, falling to fourth.

Drosselmeyer, a WinStar Farm product who came off at 13-1, was ridden by Mike Smith. Both he and trainer Bill Mott won their first Belmont Stakes.

Completing the field were Uptowncharlybrown, Stay Put, Interactif, Stately Victor, pre-race favorite Ice Box, Make Music for Me, Dave in Dixie and Spangled Star.

Smith was riding Drosselmeyer for the first time after regular jockey Kent Desormeaux was in the saddle for seven of the colt's first eight starts this year.

With the win, Smith has claimed all three Triple Crown events. The jockey won the 2005 Kentucky Derby aboard Giacomo and rode Prairie Bayou to the 1993 Preakness title.

Drosselmeyer returned $28, $11.60 and $7.70. Fly Down paid $6.80 and $5.10, and First Dude paid $4.90 to show.