Belmont Stakes | |
Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York |
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Date | June 8, 2002 |
Distance | 1+1⁄2 mi (12 furlongs; 2,414 m) |
Winning horse | Sarava |
Winning time | 2:29.71 |
Final odds | 70.25 (to 1) |
Jockey | Edgar Prado |
Trainer | Kenneth McPeek |
Owner | New Phoenix Stables and Susan Roy |
Conditions | Fast[1] |
Surface | Dirt |
The 2002 Belmont Stakes was the 134th running of the Belmont Stakes. The 1+1⁄2-mile (2,400 m) race, known as the "test of the champion" and sometimes called the "final jewel" in thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown series, was held on June 8, 2002, three weeks after the Preakness Stakes and five weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
War Emblem, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza, was the race favorite after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in front-running fashion. However, he lost all chance of completing the Triple Crown after stumbling at the start of the race. Lightly regarded Sarava won at odds of 70–1, the biggest long-shot in the history of the Belmont Stakes.