ELMONT (New York), June 8: Empire Maker thwarted Funny Cide’s bid to land the first Triple Crown in quarter of a century when he captured the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

Ten Most Wanted finished three-quarters of a length behind Empire Maker while Funny Cide was third in the field of six.

New York-bred Funny Cide, whose modest origins and colorful band of owners caught racegoers’ imagination, was seeking to become just the 12th Triple Crown winner in racing history and the first since Affirmed in 1978.

Instead he became the fifth horse in the last seven years to fail at Belmont with US racing’s greatest prize — and a $5 million bonus — on the line.

Funny Cide held the lead until the final turn when Empire Maker passed him just before the top of the stretch. A sloppy track after persistent rain did little to help Funny Cide.

Full Belmont Stakes result (run over a mile and a half):

Distance 1. Empire Maker 3/4 2. Ten Most Wanted 4-1/4 3. Funny Cide 5-1/4 4. Dynever 15-1/4 5. Supervisor 4-1/2 6. Scrimshaw

Six ran.

Winner ridden by Jerry Bailey, trained by Robert Frankel. Owner Juddmonte Farms. Purse $1,000,000, of which $600,000 to the winner. Time: 2:28.26 Track: Sloppy. Attendance: 101,562—Reuters