1991 Belmont Stakes - Hansel

Hansel survived a tingling stretch duel with Strike the Gold and won the 123d Belmont Stakes by the length of his head yesterday at Belmont Park.

It was five weeks after Strike the Gold won the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after Hansel won the Preakness, and their rubber match was in doubt until the final stride as they charged through the homestretch before a roaring crowd of 51,766. And, as they raced home, Hansel managed to cling to the lead by a head over his fast-closing rival in the tightest finish in the Belmont since Affirmed edged Alydar by the same margin in 1978.

It was a day of redemption for Hansel, and also a day of big bucks. In his last five starts, the 3-year-old colt raced on the medication Lasix, a diuretic used to control bleeding but banned in New York State. In running a demanding mile and a half in 2:28 flat under Jerry Bailey, Hansel won the closest and most important race of his career without medication.

"His heart got him home," said his trainer, Frank Brothers.

Chris Antley, who came within inches of snatching the lead with Strike the Gold after his horse ran 11th and last for nearly a mile, said in a simple lament, "I just wish it was a mile and a half and four jumps."

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/09/spo...