Stars and Stripes Festival 2016 in Photos
The Stars and Stripes Festival at Belmont Park was filled with great stakes races and finishes from top to bottom. Five of the six graded stakes ended in photo finishes. Dominance continued and new stars emerged on the racing scene for the first time. Capturing racehorses in motion and the moments that come with racing is one of my favorite things in the world and I had the opportunity to do that again this past weekend.
Joe Talamo gets a leg up on COPPA prior to the Victory Ride (G3).
Around the final turn of the Victory Ride.
COPPA (#9) makes her winning move at the top of the stretch.
The Victory Ride field passing by the American flag, with COPPA in front, on this Stars and Stripes Day of racing.
The stunning FISH TRAPPE ROAD stamped himself as an up and comer in the 3-year-old male division with a win in the Dwyer (G3).
HIGHLAND SKY comes to the throatlatch of DEAUVILLE down the stretch in the Belmont Derby (G1).
But in the end, the Irish-bred DEAUVILLE prevailed over his American counterpart by an ever-dwindling neck.
HIGHLAND SKY is beautiful beyond words, and deserves honorable mention for the weekend's best performances.
EFFINEX gets some love prior to the Suburban (G2).
EFFINEX, SAMRAAT, and MUBTAAHIJ made for an exciting finish in the Suburban.
EFFINEX has won the Suburban by a combined half length with both of his victories in the historic race.
Moments such as these are some of my favorite to capture.
The Belmont Oaks (G1) offered 3-year-old fillies a berth in the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
The start of the Belmont Oaks.
CATCH A GLIMPSE, ears pricked, shot out of the gate like a cannon to assume to early lead.
CATCH A GLIMPSE managed to hold off TIME AND MOTION at the end of the 10 furlong test and gave the Americans a 1-2 finish.
Turf princess.
Down victory lane she goes.
A.P. INDIAN toughed out a win over MARKING in the Belmont Sprint Championship (G3).
"Jersey Joe" Bravo was pretty happy over winning the last of the day.
A.P. INDIAN smiles for the photographers on his way out of the winner's circle.