July 2-4 Belmont Stakes Results

Dwyer winner Strong Contender returns with Edgar Prado aboard. Prado said, "Today, he really performed. He's the kind of horse that sometimes shows speed and sometimes doesn't. He is such a big horse and he covers so much ground. Around the turn, the hole opened. When I rode him at Gulfstream, I really didn't have to shake him up. Today, I wanted to see what I had and I shook him up. I like the feeling he gave me." Trainer John Ward Jr. added, "This is probably a style that is more suitable for him. Just laying back and not being in contention early. I wasn't concerned that he moved too soon. Edgar got up in the hole pretty easy. He let him take charge and let this horse use his big, long stride."