[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Progressive gelding Triple Jay brought up a winning hat-trick at Belmont on Saturday when taking out the featured $100,000 Jockey Celebration Day Stakes (1400m).
Ridden by Brad Parnham who kept his undefeated record aboard the $2.05 favourite in tact after three rides, the Street Boss five-year-old was caught wide through the early stages of the race before positioning up outside the leader and always travelling well.
He hit the front passing the 200m mark and was strong through the line to defeat Upper Limits ($5.50) by just over a length, with Crescent City ($7.50) a further length-and-three-quarters away in third place.
Bred and part-owned by Oakland Park, Triple Jay has enjoyed a breakout campaign this preparation with stylish wins at four of his past five starts to rocket through the grades.
He has now had 16 career starts for seven wins, five minor placings and $310,632 in total earnings.
The victory was Pearce Racing’s first of the new season, with stablemates Under Influence and Galaxy Affair both finishing second in their respective races earlier on the program.