Tonalist edges Commissioner for Belmont victory; California Chrome fourth

Tonalist (outside) just got the best of Commissioner in Belmont 146 (Spencer Tulis/Horsephotos.com)

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.”

Tonalist captured the Belmont in his fifth career start (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com)

“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.

(L to R) California Chrome, Tonalist, Medal Count and Commissioner in the Belmont stretch (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

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 top five under the Belmont wire were only separated by 1 3/4 lengths (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

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.