Todd Pletcher trained Palace Malice won the concluding leg of the US Triple Crown, the G1 Belmont Stakes on Saturday. The 14-1shot was ridden by Mike Smith. Preakness winner Oxbow finished second while the Kentucky Derby winner Orb ended up third.

Palace Malice had not relished the blinkers in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 12th after setting a scorching pace initially. After deciding to miss out the Preakness, Palace Malice targeted the Belmont Stakes but without the blinkers. Freedom Child and Frac Daddy set a seemingly fast pace with Oxbow settled in third. Palace Malice came up from an outward draw to be prominent while Orb and Golden Soul were in touch as the field raced through the backstretch. Frac Daddy packed its bags early and Oxbow who looked eager, got past Freedom Child to take the lead. Palace Malice moved swiftly with Mike getting active on the saddle to join Oxbow and the duo were engaged in a keen tussle before Palace Malice went convincingly clear in the last 100 yards. Orb finished third another length and three quarters behind.

"We took the blinkers off going the mile and a half today and it worked out well," said the trainer Todd Pletcher, and added, "We always felt he had a big win in him. He just needed to put it all together. We got into a good, comfortable rhythm and we felt like, turning up the backside, 'okay, it's developing the way we want it. Let's see if he's good enough'."

Smith, who was riding his second Belmont winner after Drosselmeyer three years ago said, "The key to the win was blinkers off. He just ran through the bridle in the Derby and removing the blinkers made a huge difference. The whole key was being able to get him in that rhythm because he's bred to run all day.”