2007 Memorial Day weekend at Belmont Park - part 1

By Cindy Pierson Dulay, About.com Guide

9,599 fans came out to Belmont on Sunday for the $100,000 Jaipur Stakes (G3) for older turf sprinters going 6 furlongs on the inner turf course. Ponche Handicap winner Weigelia was the 4-5 favorite over 4-1 second choice and Churchill Downs Stakes third place finisher Will He Shine. Fort Marcy sixth place finisher Baron Von Tap was the 10-1 third choice in the field of nine.

Weigelia battled for the lead with 28-1 outsider Retribution through fractions of 21.76 and 44.27. The hot pace up front took its toll on the heavy favorite, setting up the race for the closers. 24-1 longshot Ecclesiastic, who sat back in fifth down the backstretch, took the turn three-wide and rallied past the tiring pacesetters through the lane to win by 2 3/4 2 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:07.54 over the firm course. 11-1 shot Salute The Count rallied well to nose out Weigelia in the final strides to get second place money, while Will He Shine failed to fire and finished last.