Tonalist edges Commissioner for Belmont victory; California Chrome fourth

Robert S. Evans' Tonalist was making just his fifth lifetime start in Saturday's 146th

edition of the Grade 1, $1.5 million

Belmont Stakes but that didn't stop the Tapit colt from running down

Commissioner to post a head win in the "Test of the Champion."

While most eyes were on Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero California Chrome,

jockey Joel Rosario guided the Christophe Clement-trained Tonalist through 1 1/2

miles on Belmont Park's fast dirt in 2:28 2/5 to hand Commissioner a second

straight defeat after the duo finished one-two in the Grade 2 Peter Pan on May

10.

"It's a great win, it's great for the team, for the staff, for the owner, Mr.

Evans, who believed in us. I'm absolutely thrilled. It's wonderful," Clement

said. "He trained great, he looked great before the race. I'm absolutely

delighted that he won.

"I wasn't sure he won," the horseman added. "We actually thought he finished

second, but we got lucky, he won. It was great."

"Yes (it's

bittersweet). I'm a little bit upset about California Chrome. If I was going to

get beat, I wanted to just get beat by him," Rosario admitted. "This

is very important to me like always. This is the Belmont, so this is great.

"This horse, he did very good today. (Tonalist is) just kind of a big horse, and he has one long

stride, and he just grind it, and keeps on going and going, keeps on coming, and

he got the job done today."

Tonalist was sent off the 9-1 fifth choice in the 11-horse field and returned

$20.40 for the win. Commissioner suffered a tough beat in second, while Medal

Count filled the third spot another length back.

"He ran super," trainer Todd Pletcher praised Commissioner. "I didn't anticipate that we would be on the lead, but we weren't

going to take away anything they gave us. He was almost good enough today."

"It's unbelievable the way this New York crowd came out

here and supported our sport, and I want them to know how much we truly

appreciate it," said Dale Romans, who saddled Medal Count to his Belmont third.

"It's about being around greatness, and California Chrome is greatness. He

couldn't get it done today like the last twelve that tried, but he's greatness,

and it proves people here still appreciate the greatness of this game. It's

always an honor to be a part of a great event like this.

California Chrome bobbled at the start and reportedly grabbed a quarter. The

blazed-faced chestnut dead-heated for fourth with Wicked Strong on the Belmont

line.

"A little tired. I thought he was...turning for home I was just waiting to

have the same kick like he always had before, and today he was a little bit flat

down the lane," a dejected Espinoza stated. "(Taking dirt didn't both him) at

all. I was nice and comfortable in there, and I had a chance to move out, and

when I moved out he just don't have that today.

"I think it was

tough for him. He ran back-to-back races in different tracks -- and all those

fresh horses. But he feels good."

"When Victor started to squeeze on him, he didn't

respond. He was wore out, I think," said Alan Sherman, son and assistant to

California Chrome's trainer, Art Sherman. "Victor seemed to think he handled the surface

fine, and he seemed to come back fine. We'll know more when we get back to the

barn."

Samraat, General a Rod, Matterhorn and Commanding Curve completed the order

under the wire. Matuszak and Ride On Curlin, who reportedly bled, were both

eased.

The bay faced winners for the first time on February 22 at Gulfstream,

including impressive maiden debut scorer and eventual Florida Derby victor

Constitution. Tonalist gave it his best but just could not run down that rival

while going 1 1/16 miles.

Next up for the colt was the Wood Memorial at

Aqueduct, but Tonalist came down with a lung infection which forced him to miss

that final shot at earning any points for making the Kentucky Derby field.

Tonalist's connections gave their colt plenty of time to recover and opted to

give him a start at Belmont instead of pointing for the Preakness. The

Kentucky-bred ended up running in the Peter Pan and schooled

his rivals in that nine-furlong, sloppy affair when leading all the way home to

score by four lengths.

Next up was the Belmont, and Tonalist lived up to expectations with his

hard-fought score. In the process, he improved his scorecard to read 5-3-1-0 and

boosted his earnings to $957,000.

Tonalist is out of the winning Pleasant Colony mare Settling Mist, making his

second dam the stakes-winning Toll Fee. That one's descendants include Horse of

the Year Havre de Grace, multiple Grade 1 queen Riskaverse, and Grade 3 scorers

Cozzy Corner and Bouquet Booth.