2012 Belmont Stakes Undercard

By Cindy Pierson Dulay, About.com Guide

The $400,000 True North Handicap (G2) featured a field of 8 older horses sprinting 6 furlongs on the main track. Charles Town Classic (G3) winner Caixa Eletronica was sent off as the 7-2 favorite off his 4th place finish in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) last out. In to challenge him included 4-1 second choice Smiling Tiger, 5th in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G2), and 9-2 third choice Pacific Ocean, winner of the Vernon O. Underwood (G3) at Hollywood Park.

Jockey Joel Rosario sent Pacific Ocean to the lead down the backstretch and he set fast fractions of 21.80 and 44.58 while stalked by 6-1 Giant Ryan and 13-1 Justin Phillip. Pacific Ocean tired mid-stretch, as Justin Phillip gained the lead. Caixa Eletronica, last early, closed with a rush through traffic to win by 3/4 length in 1:09.52. It was another 3/4 length back to Smiling Tiger third. The race was marred by the breakdown of Giant Ryan at the 1/8 pole. He was vanned off and sent to the New Bolton Center to have surgery on his broken left front ankle.

Results chart