The 2008 Belmont Stakes was the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes. The race was won by Da'Tara, who led the race wire to wire. Da'Tara had 38-1 odds, making the win a monumental upset. Big Brown, the favorite who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, was eased in last place, a first for any Triple Crown hopeful.
Entrants included Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown. A win by Big Brown would have marked the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Other entrants were Derby runners Denis of Cork, Tale of Ekati, and Anak Nakal; Preakness runner up Macho Again and third place finisher Icabad Crane; and Peter Pan runner, Ready's Echo. The sire of Anak Nakal, Victory Gallop, is a Belmont winner, while Casino Drive has two Belmont-winning siblings.
Casino Drive was scratched from the race the morning of the race with an injured hoof. He was the Peter Pan Stakes winner, and the half brother of 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches and 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil. A win by Casino Drive would have been the first time that siblings have won the same Triple Crown race in three consecutive years. Kent Desormeaux, the regular jockey for both Big Brown and Casino Drive, rode Big Brown while two-time Belmont winner Edgar Prado had been scheduled to ride Casino Drive.
The race was seen before 94,476 fans.
Famous quotes containing the words belmont and/or stakes:
“We use important words too frequently and they lose value; for instance, charm and great. An actor or musician often is proclaimed great when we really mean he is outstanding.”
—Eleanor Robson Belmont (1878–1979)
“This man was very clever and quick to learn anything in his line. Our tent was of a kind new to him; but when he had once seen it pitched, it was surprising how quickly he would find and prepare the pole and forked stakes to pitch it with, cutting and placing them right the first time, though I am sure that the majority of white men would have blundered several times.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)