Sir Winston win another surprise

Colt’s upset gives trainer Casse final 2 jewels of Triple Crown

NEW YORK — Sir Winston provided a perfect finish to a crazy Triple Crown.

After a DQ in the Kentucky Derby and a runaway horse in the Preakness, of course the Belmont Stakes goes to a 10-1 long shot.

Sir Winston captured the $1.5 million race Saturday, holding off favored Tacitus by a length.

The win gave trainer Mark Casse the final two jewels in the showcase for 3-year-old thoroughbreds. He won the Preakness with War of Will, who was expected to battle Tacitus in the 11⁄2-mile Belmont.

Instead, Casse’s other’s colt took the Belmont.

“I said all week he was doing really well,” Casse said.

Sir Winston, who was making his Triple Crown debut, finished second in the Peter Pan Stakes, the traditional Belmont prep.

Joel Rosario rode him for the first time in that race, and the two put on a show Saturday in front of a crowd of 56,217, earning $800,000 for owner Tracy Farmer. Long shot Joevia finished third.

The Triple Crown grind caught up to War of Will, who ran in all three races. He finished ninth in the 10-horse field.

The Belmont capped an entertaining Triple Crown highlighted by the DQ of Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby. It sparked interest in thoroughbred racing despite no possibility of the third Triple Crown winner in five years.

Sir Winston paid $22.40, $8.80 and $6.10. Tacitus returned $3.90 and $3.20 as the 9-5 favorite. Joevia paid $8.70.

The win was the third in 10 starts for the slow-developing Sir Winston.

“We’re very proud of him,” the 58-yearold trainer said. “He’s what our operation represents. We develop. The first two times he ran, he got beat 10 or 20 lengths. I remember having a conversation with Mr. Farmer, and I said ‘Don’t give up on him.’ ”

The feeling paid off — big time.