The $400,000 Suburban Handicap (G2) was the feature race at Belmont Park on Independence Day. A field of 10 older horses went to post in this 1 1/4 mile main track feature, with Stephen Foster runner-up Asiatic Boy the 8-5 favorite over Oaklawn Handicap and Lone Star Park Handicap winner It's A Bird at 5-2 and Lord of the Night Stakes winner Cool Coal Man at 6-1. Just 7,667 were on hand on a sunny Saturday afternoon with the temperature in the upper 70's
Finallymadeit was loose on the lead through fractions of 24.48, 47.63, 1:11.39, and 1:35.73 taking the inside path while 3 lengths in front of It's A Bird and Cool Coal Man battling for second. Finallymadeit continued to lead into the stretch but the fast pace had taken its toll as he grudgingly yielded late. Dry Martini, who was outrun early and settled at the back of the field for 3/4 mile, came through on the inside on the turn and closed well to take over the lead inside the 1/8 pole. Favorite Asiatic Boy, who was 4th early, passed tiring horses to get second at the top of the stretch but was no match for the winner, as Dry Martini cruised under the line 2 lengths in front in 2:00.80 over the fast trak. It was just a neck back from Asiatic Boy to Rising Moon third, and another neck to Finallymadeit fourth.
Dwyer Stakes and Tom Fool Handicap - also at Belmont Park this weekend
