In a 2011 podcast Campbell recorded after witnessing Ruler On Ice’s Belmont victory, the horseman described the joy and elation expressed by the winning connections, owners George and Lori Hall and trainer Kelly Breen, “All the heartaches in racing are made up for when you experience that one exquisite, sapphire of a moment…in any race. But think how it would be in the Belmont Stakes when your horse has hit the front, and you know he is going to get there. Like all superlatives in life, those fabulous flashes are few and far between.”
Saturday was Campbell’s sapphire moment.
“I don't know what would beat it,” said the eighty-five-year old Campbell Saturday after winning the Belmont. “It comes at, you know, what is certainly the twilight of my career, to put it euphemistically. It's a race that means a lot to me. I like the tradition of it, and I've come to the Belmont many years and, yeah, it's hot stuff.”
Palace Malice returned $29.60, $11.20, and $6.70. Oxbow paid $9.90 and $6.10 and completed the $2 exacta for $323.50. Orb paid $3.90 and completed the $2 trifecta for $931. Incognito completed the $2 superfecta for $20,602. The final time for the 1 ½ mile race over the fast dirt was 2:30.70.
Photo: NYRA.com/ Courtney Heeney
