Belmont Notes: Teenage jockey delivers cool ride

ELMONT, N.Y. — Fernando Jara grew up in Panama admiring the top jockeys in the United States.

The 18-year-old Jara more than held his own against elite riders when he guided Jazil to a 1 ¼-length victory in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

"When I was a little kid, I watched all the races," Jara recalled. "I saw all the big jockeys and said, 'One day, I want to be there.' "

Jara joined the club with a cool ride in a pressure situation to become one of the youngest jockeys to win the 1-½-mile Belmont. Steve Cauthen was 18 when he swept the 1978 Triple Crown with Affirmed.

Jara started riding at 14 and was competing in the United States when he was 16.

Jara's right foot slipped out of the iron after an early bump in the Belmont. But he recovered, getting his foot back in the iron. In full control of the 3-year-old colt again, Jara let Jazil settle in last place before launching a move down the backstretch. Jara calmly picked his way through the entire field and had Jazil on the lead with a quarter-mile to go.

"I moved at the right time," Jara said. "It's amazing. I got clear."

Pletcher-trained runners finish 2-3

Todd Pletcher remains winless in Triple Crown races.

The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer fell to 0 for 21 in such events after his two starters — Bluegrass Cat and Sunriver — finished second and third in the Belmont.

Bluegrass Cat also was second in the Kentucky Derby.

"We had a rough trip with Bluegrass Cat," Pletcher said. "He lost a lot of ground on the first turn. He never stopped trying."

Cacique triumphs

Cacique beat Relaxed Gesture by a head in the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap, one of five graded races on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Cacique, ridden by Edgar Prado and trained by Bobby Frankel, ran 1-¼ miles on the yielding inner turf course in 2 minutes, 4.10 seconds. The 5-year-old paid $6.40 to win in the Grade I Manhattan.

Bushfire, ridden by Alex Solis and trained by Eddie Kenneally, took the Grade I Acorn for 3-year-old fillies. She ran a mile on dirt in 1:35.89 and paid $11.20 to win in the $250,000 race.

In Grade II events, 5-year-old gelding Anew ($12.40 to win) led all the way in the $200,000 True North Handicap; 4-year-old filly Gorella ($3.20) captured the $285,000 Just a Game Handicap on turf; and Songster ($7.70) took the $250,000 Woody Stephens Breeders' Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds.