Belmont Stakes 2021 (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports

[@jayf4612]

One of the more exciting Belmont races in recent years. Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie are both outstanding racehorses.

[@jayf4612]

@alida flus He sure did. He did a great job in the Belmont.

[@madelinetramantano8302]

KILLING HORSES

[@CMoore8539]

Very great

[@VicMartino]

My father Jack use to take me to Aqueduct and Belmont park horse racing when I was younger and watching the horse races brings fond memories of my dearly departed beloved dad.

[@jeffmurray4627]

Great memories I am sure Vic.

[@VicMartino]

@@jeffmurray4627 Indeed Jeff. Thanks.

[@agustindejesus7398]

Vi, i was there all the time. Most likely i did see you....trying to guess a winner for him. RIP.

[@MahmadhusenGhanchi78]

🎉

[@lisao9486]

Had to be impressed with Hot Rod Charlie being there at the end my reaction to the first quarter mile fraction was too fast going a mile and a half. Congrats to connections of Essential Quality.

[@gustavoj5410]

Agreed. Bad ride by Prat. You let Rock your world go on and you stalk. Rock your world, like I have been saying all along is a turf horse

[@sirCULTURE]

TRUE! Especially after putting up opening quarter fraction and to remain in front on Old Sandy shows some awesome endurance if I have ever seen it.

[@ariancontreras4358]

Gets me a bit mad that some people think this crop is bad or weak. Even though all three triple crown races are on the faster end when it comes to time. That said, there has been a clear divide on which horses we should look forward to though that could change depending on how some of them develop into their later 3 year old and perhaps 4 year old career.

[@garymartin9777]

Now this is an old-fashioned horse race !

[@susanurban5920]

No it wasn’t or today’s winner would have run in the Preakness and not needed a five week rest.

[@vxrage4533]

@@susanurban5920 Sometimes there is no need to run in the preakness after a KD loss

[@loverofcalifornia3619]

@@susanurban5920 It was a fantastic race. Gorgeous horse ran a convincing win and has only lost one race in his career.

[@susanurban5920]

No need to win a million dollars. Okay, if you say so.

[@susanurban5920]

Well sure, as long as there is a month or two between races.

[@frostedicepharoah7723]

Essential Quality proves his status as Champion! What an excellent race. He'll be back for more.

[@brandonsanmann9436]

Now The Road 2 The Breeders Cup Championships @ Del Mar Begins

[@timothycastillo1527]

And he’s retired

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Horse Face Gamble Bet

[@LukeParks123]

Hot Rod Charlie set such a fast pace, going 1 1/2 its amazing he finished like he did!

[@jeffcupp1]

It definitely put the rest of the field away besides EQ

[@maryjoforrest1011]

Yes that was very impressive.

[@ajgensel9359]

He was kicking so hard to keep level in the stretch too. Hot Rod Charlie was much more impressive in defeat, a very intriguing pedigree as well.

[@markc6378]

he ran the first 1/4 in 22+ ,second and third 1/4 in 25+ and a mile in 1:12 that's hardly a fast pace. Essential Quality is clearly the class of this bunch with HRC second best.

[@barbaralovenvirth8726]

Never take care the lead in the Belmont...he did a sterling job to finish second.

[@bandovreal22]

The top 2 put about 12 lengths on the field, both had tons of run left at the stretch run. Excellent race!!.

[@callmeishmael4659]

I wanna see these two go 2 miles

[@montanamountaingarden476]

@@callmeishmael4659 Hot Rod Charlie probably wouldn't be able to handle 2 miles, even at his peak, EQ at his peak however would probably love two miles

[@ptownraised76]

Congrats to Essential Quality. Hot Rod Charlie ran his heart out, very impressed with both horses!

[@joerockhead7246]

"HOT ROD CHARLIE WON"T GO AWAY". Great call.

[@mudslidebeggy587]

He was so caught up in the match race between EQ and HRC that he was calling Rombauer, Bourbonic.

[@pocahon8460]

I LOVE the commentator hes so authentically into it

[@krakhour2]

Dont think he called 3rd place horse right

[@callmeishmael4659]

he's a broadcaster, not a commentator

[@pocahon8460]

I lookedit up He's a race caller/announcer

[@montanamountaingarden476]

@@krakhour2 No bc he was focused on EQ and HRC

[@Em-dh2eh]

Good race, haven’t seen a good dual like that in a while

[@RustyGaming983]

@@christopherjordan2183 nah man, u cant duel with juice horse

[@montanamountaingarden476]

Monomoy Girl and Letruska? Monomoy Girl and Wonder Gadot? Beholder and Songbird? California Chrome and Arrogate? Authentic and Swiss Skydiver? Here’s a few you could go and watch if you like these kind of stretch duels

[@Em-dh2eh]

@@montanamountaingarden476 I was really not expecting to trigger anyone 😂😭

[@montanamountaingarden476]

@@Em-dh2eh No it didn’t trigger me. I’m genuinely giving you suggestions of other stretch duels to watch if you like stretch duels

[@mallorys728]

Hot Rod Charlie was almost, if not more impressive in defeat! This, this is horse racing at its finest.

[@Ricardo-kz6mf]

💯💯💯

[@dancnkc]

More impressive because he was the pace horse the entire way and didn't lose it until the very last stretch.

[@200991602]

He is a talented courageous champion.

[@madelinetramantano8302]

NO STOP KILLING HORSES

[@valerieteti1755]

@@madelinetramantano8302 Go watch golf then

[@200991602]

This will make summer and the Breeders Cup interesting.

[@moonbully2272]

For sure they will have him to out run that was a great performance

[@200991602]

@@moonbully2272 So excited for this year. Love it when we have two far in front of the others. EQ really fights it out to win, HRC has become a fabulous horse over the months since the Breeders Cup 2020 So much to look forward to.

[@susanurban5920]

Whichever horse has the longest rest will be the horse that wins the Travers.....and it will be hailed as some significant accomplishment. These thoroughbreds today are a watered down version of their great ancestors. Nothing any of them do today could ever be considered great when you go back and see what their magnificent ancestors did.

[@LukeParks123]

@@susanurban5920 Oh would you shut up already

[@benettaperry5165]

When is the Breeders Cup?

[@averageuser7173]

The pace in the first 1/4 mile was fast af

[@benettaperry5165]

What an heart pounding race.

[@gregmccurry5619]

like tiznows breeder cup win

[@USSLKA-116]

Yep! It was a great race.

[@abnerramirez3949]

Hola preciosa te quiero conocer

[@karaamundson3964]

This? Is pretty much why I watch horse racing. A whole field of good horses with a clutch of the gallant few at the top and the absolute game closing the race.

[@petehoward8494]

Yes, it's awesome. My bucket list includes a summer at Saratoga.

[@cubnation]

@@petehoward8494 I hope you get there it is stunning! 🐎🐎

[@guillermonunez8049]

Exelente performance by Esential quality. No Question about.

[@barbaralovenvirth8726]

EQ rode in classic Belmont winning style...Closer.

[@SarahDigsHockey]

One of the best things about this race? No Bob Baffert.

[@TailsFan369no2]

Just wait

[@paulstolp6350]

Absolutely

[@gregmccurry5619]

@@TailsFan369no2 greatest trainer in the game 7 time Kentucky derby champion only real quiet is greater.

[@makennabouillon2836]

@@gregmccurry5619 yeah, best trainer at cheating

[@oswaldojosedibenedetto5305]

@@makennabouillon2836 no way

[@toddfortune3480]

Bet all three legs, cashed all three legs. Hot Rod Charlie was dead game in defeat. Good race.

[@asilarabians]

Reminds me of Sham, my all time favorite

[@4orrcountry]

So you're an expert now...

[@gregmccurry5619]

@@asilarabians and hardspun 2nd to street sense. grasshopper nearly beat street sense in the travers stakes the mid summer derby aug 28th at Saratoga the summer place to be.

[@MReza-nq3pd]

Congratulations

[@toddfortune3480]

@@jjboyd01 Had the derby exacta, had the exacta and win money on the 6 in the Preakness, and played win and place on EQ in the Belmont. Not braggin, not trying to portray myself as an expert. Happy to get a few tickets.

[@callmeishmael4659]

man, who else wants to see these two hook up again?! And how about putting Essential Quality into a 2-miler? what a horse

[@the_inmortal_1349]

He surely didn't like that one loss at the Derby...he really came back and showed 'em who's boss!

[@AdrianAdrianTV]

I love this announcer's enthusiasm!🤩

[@skyhawk2311]

“𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐂𝐇!! LOVE the announcer’s energy and enthusiasm!

[@mikedavidson5352]

Looking at Essential Quality, he looks like a man running against the boys. He's grown even more since the Kentucky Derby. Definitely Horse of the Year.

[@michaelpflug7305]

Idk horse of the year isn’t a lock. Silver State is making quite a case for that himself.

[@Makado14]

Still has a lot to prove

[@montanamountaingarden476]

Idk about Horse of the Year, nothing is a lock for him right now. He still has to face the top older dirt male, which right now is Mystic Guide. He’s not even a lock for champion three year old yet. He has to stay consistent for the rest of the year before he is

[@montanamountaingarden476]

@@michaelpflug7305 Don’t forget Mystic Guide, who is the leader of the older dirt male division right now

[@kevinmuzerMetalMind64]

A Stubborn Hot Rod Charlie....Essential Quality for the Win!!!

[@stacytaddiken7634]

Wow, I thought Hot Rod Charlie was gonna fade but he never did! What an amazing horse!

[@carrieeasley3995]

Thank you so much for posting this race! I was switching back and forth between the Belmont and the National news. The news aired a story that made me mad and I missed the darn race! Essential Quality is a darn good horse! Great race!

[@petehoward8494]

Your priorities are severely out of alignment. :)

[@mizroyalsan1351]

Essential Quality got his revenge. Wow.

[@carolmiller5713]

Smarter race.

[@iamskywalker23]

Impressed really with how Hot Rod Charlie run.. all credits to him.But the best horse this year for me just won it... Essential Quality!!! 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@loverofcalifornia3619]

Perfect race with an incredible champion winning it!

[@dsauce223]

I love Essential Quality. This horse has made me so much gosh darn money.

[@lunatr0n]

what a race! man, Hot Rod Charlie and Essential Quality were neck and neck there at the final stretch. Congrats to Essential Quality!

[@YAOG]

Just a little too fast too early for HotRod Charlie.

[@SayYoJ]

ESSENTIAL QUALITY 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Outstanding!

[@OfficialMuffiin]

Tapit absolutely owns the Belmont Stakes,what a great race.

[@montanamountaingarden476]

It’s cause of their breeding, these Tapit colts are LITERALLY bred for the mile and a half

[@jamessacket1718]

I just wanted to say l don't bet on the races l just love the horses

[@jamessacket1718]

.kathy newcomb-l was lucky enough to see that race in 1973 with Seretariat.i'll never forget it!!

[@brendad3570]

Very exciting race Great announcing!

[@MC-wo3wj]

Both outstanding horses/athletes...just love love watching them race..never gets old for me

[@SumoCumLoudly]

What a race, iconic win, iconic horse.

[@FsKSmooth1]

Now that was horse race folks

[@MsLinjohn]

and the Gray Horse wins!

[@kennethnero2011]

Hot Rod Charlie ran the fastest two quarters in Belmont Stakes history 22.78

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

Next stop, Ruidoso Downs.

[@susanurban5920]

Yes and they still could not get anywhere near Sectetariats world record time....even with a five week rest.

[@bbmtge]

I guess you don't understand that that's why he couldn't quite finish.

[@nickperez7553]

Yes but the track was favoring speed today

[@averageuser7173]

@@susanurban5920 Jesus Christ it's like you people can't say anything about horse racing without mentioning Secretariat lol

[@Ames85]

Great race. Essential Quality showed up. After watching it back a few times, Hot Rod Charlie came out and stayed out. Quite impressive horse. Kept the lead nearly the entire time. But this was Essential Quality’s race to lose.

[@etacarinae5558]

Great stretch run!

[@evagrant7907]

Fantastic performance by Essential Quality Hope this race will be on the up and up

[@petehoward8494]

It will be. Brad Cox has a squeaky clean record, unlike Bob Baffert, that cheating SOB.

[@davidellis5141]

Essential Quality to good ! 🐎

[@casumpangreynaldo6081]

CONGRATS ESSENTIAL QUALITY

[@equinegirl369]

This was one exciting horserace! I'm so glad I got to watch. Essential Quality was my pick too.

[@nickfury5373]

that horse is the best 3year old

[@debramaxwell1049]

Hot Rod Charlie is beast had it all the way good race glad Essential Quality finally got a piece of it deserves father was a class AÇT

[@wbeard358]

Awesome stretch run!

[@montanamountaingarden476]

Once again Essential Quality proves his dominance. I've now learned that no horse should get into a dogfight with him in the stretch, cause that's twice now he's been in a stretch dual and prevailed

[@susanurban5920]

A five week rest certainly helps.

[@loverofcalifornia3619]

@@susanurban5920 So what? You are obsessed with that! The horse has only lost one race in his career. He got bumped in the Kentucky Derby. How do you know they were not monitoring him to make certain he was not injured? You don't do you?

[@susanurban5920]

How many times has he run? When Secretariat won the Belmont it was his 15th lifetime start? Same with Affirmed and the same with Seattle Slew...No, I think Slew was making his 12th start at that point.

[@susanurban5920]

I just like to put things into perspective because these horses today are nothing like they used to be.

[@cubnation]

@@susanurban5920 *EXACTLY!* 🎯🎯

[@panheadchick1212]

I like Essential Quality, but every single Belmont since 1973 will always be compared to Secretariats MAGNIFICENT run.

[@Makado14]

Nothing has even come close to Secretariat in the Belmont , including these horses.

[@TailsFan369no2]

American pharaoh: am I a joke to you now

[@TailsFan369no2]

@@Makado14 American pharaoh: am I a joke to you now

[@4orrcountry]

@@TailsFan369no2 Based on their running times, Pharoah would have finished 10 lengths behind Secretariat. And don't you forget it.

[@makennabouillon2836]

@@TailsFan369no2 yes, he still ran it 2 seconds slower the Secretariat

[@5BIRDOG5]

Can we all agree Hot Rod Charlie is the one to watch for in the future!!?? He will find the right distance and is going to be a big star!

[@carolmiller5713]

If they get smarter about how to run him. As they say it's not how you start - it's how you finish.

[@RealLifeFinance]

He will win all kinds of 1mile to 1 1/8th races start to finish

[@LukeParks123]

A Tapit colt strikes agian!

[@loverofcalifornia3619]

Gorgeous horses, both of them!

[@patrickreidy7420]

Great bloodline of course, tapit is secretariat blood

[@loverofcalifornia3619]

@@patrickreidy7420 Interesting. I did not know that.

[@marysueeasteregg]

@@loverofcalifornia3619 Tapit's direct male line is to Seattle Slew, through his son A.P. Indy, Belmont & Breeders' cup Classic winner & 1992 Horse of the Year. Secretariat was A.P. Indy's damsire.

[@montanawarren8462]

@@marysueeasteregg Weekend Surprise, Summer Squall's mother too

[@cortlandharrison2815]

Essential Quality makes the breeders cup interesting 🔥

[@valerieteti1755]

So does Knicks Go if he runs in the Classic! I’m torn I don’t know which I would want to win!

[@debramaxwell1049]

Congrats Essential Quality

[@TheJeffro451]

They don’t call him Hot Rod Charlie for nuthin!

[@connorduke4619]

@2:12 that last horse is like "12 furlongs? Nope, nope, nope".

[@pwilliams5724]

I can't believe it. this is the first Belmont I've missed since 64 when Northern Dancer was boxed out and lost a chance at the triple crown.

[@4orrcountry]

Really? How old are you?

[@pwilliams5724]

@@4orrcountry 67

[@makennabouillon2836]

No horse should get into a mid stretch duel with Essential Quality. This is the 2nd down the stretch race he has been into and won it. Go Eq Go

[@seaonbarker3535]

He like the challenge to me ...real game

[@makennabouillon2836]

@Gary Pollard plus EQ has already beat him in all but one race theyve ran together in, like the Belmont and the Breeders Cup Juvinile. It appears to me HRC only has two wins, an msw and a g2 race. Sit Down

[@pablofernandomunozsoto2105]

Son dos caballos de triple corona!!!precioso duelo de dos grandes caballos!!!!

[@amandawhite9568]

Love this, the jock did amazing putting him where he needed to be 👍

[@windowsvistasuxalot]

Now that was an awesome horse race!!!

[@Kat-zj5kd]

unbelievable.. how essential quality was trailing behind and then took over and won the race by such a huge gap to no. 3 onwards

[@hannahskipper2764]

I felt bad for Hot Rod Charlie. He tried so hard but just went crazy fast at the beginning. But, man, Essential Quality!!

[@shedwilliams1305]

Man! What a race! and what a call!!!

[@johnlewis5665]

Great race

[@Pari28]

The mounted police horses at the end are like: uh ok, so those horses are allowed to run...remind us why WE can’t join in the race?! I’d love to ask the policemen and women what it is like to sit on a horse and be witness to a race being run! I’ll bet those police horses, calm as they are, I bet they maybe start trembling a little! *rant over lol. Just late night browsings 🤣🤣

[@i.m.7710]

The police horses long to run. They never get to run. It's torture.

[@montanawarren8462]

The outride'rs horses are in the same position

[@gmo709]

Nice job EQ! Hot Rod Chalie brought it strong, but just not quite enough. EQ is a champion.

[@laszlosari7725]

Great run

[@pamferrell5231]

Love the excited play by play!!

[@4orrcountry]

Excited but inaccurate throughout.

[@timturner3481]

and to think that as fast as this was, and the incredibly fast track conditions....Secretariat in 1973 would have beat Essential by over 3 seconds. 48 years later it remains a stunner.

[@i.m.7710]

Wow. Thanks for that info / bit of history. RIP Secretariat.

[@timturner3481]

@@i.m.7710 My pleasure. Another bit of Secretariat trivia: He's the only horse to have ever run a sub 2-minute Kentucky Derby and still holds all 3 time and speed records in all 3 Triple Crown Races. Probably never be broken.

[@montanawarren8462]

@@timturner3481 and to think that Lucian Lauren thought Angle Iight was a better horse of the two the only thing is I claimed an Angle Light filly and when she win at Keeneland we were in the test Barn an old doctor Roach told me that all the Angle Lights were bleeders so I guess that's what stopped him ... She was a notorious breeder I cared it with herbs the old Indian way she only paid $49 and when I run her back she paid $45 to run second and she broke down and they hauled her off in the meat wagon her first foal still held the track record for 7/8 River Downs when it closed Ambassadors Image I only claimed her for $6,500

[@timturner3481]

@@montanawarren8462 Lucian Lauren...Penny Chennerey...Eddie Sweat...Ronnie Turquotte. I remember all of them quite well.

[@valerieteti1755]

@@montanawarren8462 Lucien Lauren never thought Angle Light was the better of the two horses! Secretariat was the champion 2 year old and Horse of the Year in 1972. Lucien was just as shocked as everyone when AL upset the Wood Memorial. He wound up finishing 10th in the Derby.

[@nightowl7459]

A super Saturday for Godolphin, Winning the Epsom Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

[@sharonanderson657]

Finally.........a grey horse wins my major races And a favorite at that. Essential Quality loves the distance races. Perhaps the Breeder's Classic?

[@susanrosene8892]

What a great race....amazing.

[@mrhmd8308]

What a race

[@stephenmindek5533]

Hot rod Charlie ran his butt off, he should of been on the outside, maybe he would of won, but congrats to essential quality!

[@nickjohnson811]

So based on the time, Essential Quality would have come in about 19 lengths behind Secretariat.

[@thomashill156]

outstanding

[@mikeylikey6176]

I watched both race and started it simultaneously..Big Red was about 12-15 lengths ahead of EQ when he crossed the finish line//

[@johnhoie1]

Different era. Allowance horses were breaking track records in 1973. The tracks were all hard and fast.

[@seadrifter8975]

Secretariat was king but his belmont was run on a much warmer day and faster track to be fair? that time will never be matched, easy goers belmont was ultra impressive too.

[@nickjohnson811]

@@mikeylikey6176 Good idea - I just did that, and interesting comparison. It was hard to tell the number of lengths because the camera on Essential Quality didn't show the finish line when Secretariat crossed.

[@jamesmoses6092]

Speed King picks winner essential quality!

[@rickporcelli8522]

Now that was an awesome race

[@johand2317]

Running always so good Esencial quality. This race better, he was not tired.

[@angelgirl7473]

That was a good race

[@michaeltyance9106]

Congratulations!!!

[@nathanmoore3814]

Amazing!

[@shayanzahra6454]

Wow! What a horse, what a race Being far out off the rail most of the race, Essential Quality still managed to win it in the end 🐎🏆

[@773SleepyHollow]

Kudos to the announcer for slowly amping up his excitement as the race went on... nice. This clearly wasn't his first time at the, um, rodeo.

[@kingofthebeast4024]

So proud of my dapple boy

[@Barracuda-bi9ft]

Awesome race!! Essential quality has secretariat in his bloodline in 3 places, twice on his dams side and once on his sires side.

[@lorrainelloyd7750]

And Tapit goes back to the greatest, Man O'War 19 times!!!!

[@Barracuda-bi9ft]

@@lorrainelloyd7750 that’s cool!

[@valerieteti1755]

@@Barracuda-bi9ft She’s wrong he doesn’t

[@valerieteti1755]

@@lorrainelloyd7750 Wrong prove it. Secretariat is the greatest!

[@tech19731979]

Just reconfirms how special secretariat was with his Belmont's run at 2:24 flat.

[@johnhunter2294]

Yep. These two ran a great race, but Secretariat beats them both by 15 lengths.

[@meganproffitt424]

Why can't talented horses ever run their races without Secretariat stans trying to invalidate them?

[@JoseHernandez-sb7xv]

This horse deserved the triple last crown if don’t ran too wide in the Kentucky derby

[@waterlily789]

Man, that was a good race

[@brucewactor7911]

That commentator is awesome give him a raise lol

[@lifetimevents3726]

Awesome awesome 😎 😎 Belmont

[@ninayoung1075]

Impressive win

[@kylesimmons3674]

He should be the triple crown winner

[@matthewmalcolm9435]

Remove the blinkers off Essential Quality and watch him run! Brilliant Horse.

[@montanamountaingarden476]

Actually no, it was advised they put blinkers on him as a 2yr old after his first start when he was super distracted and looking around. He needs his blinkers to keep him focused, that’s what they are for

[@matthewmalcolm9435]

@@montanamountaingarden476 ok respect..

[@mukeshshah2340]

Essential Quality would have won the Triple Crown. 1) Kentucky Derby : Bad luck at starting gate. 2) Preakness : Trainer's bad decision. 3) Belmont : Complete Proof.

[@adonistopofmen2571]

fantastic .....

[@ImRanchWilder]

Nice to see Shoenice at the end looks like he's doing well!

[@childtablamaster9451]

The horse are very amaging