G1 Belmont Derby second for Nations Pride

Nations Pride stayed on to take second in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park, USA, on Saturday, 9 July.

The son of Teofilo had won four of his last five starts for Charlie Appleby coming into the 10-furlong highlight and was dropping back in trip after finishing eighth in the G1 Derby at Epsom Downs.

Nations Pride, who was partnered by Frankie Dettori, initially raced at the rear of the 12 runners before improving into midfield down the backstraight.

The field was well-bunched on the far turn and Nations Pride was forced widest of all swinging into the home straight, with five runners trying to chase down the pace-setting Classic Causeway.

Nations Pride kept on well to win the battle for second inside the final furlong but never looked like catching the leader, ultimately going down by three parts of a length.

Frankie Dettori said: “Nations Pride got upset in the gates. I was the last one out and I had to play catch up then and go through traffic. The winner had a trouble-free run. 

“If he jumped, it could have been a different story. In America, if you give too many lengths away at the start, you're going to pay at the end.”