Essential Quality narrowly edges Hot Rod Charlie in thrilling Belmont Stakes finish

There wasn’t a horse racing for a triple crown sweep Saturday at the 153rd Belmont Stakes. But the 1.5-mile race at Belmont Park in New York was thrilling nonetheless with Essential Quality coming out on top with a stunning, near-photo finish.

The favorite to win, Essential Quality didn’t jump out front right away and was running fifth through the first two turns and into the backstretch behind Hot Rod Charlie, Rock Your World, France Go De Ina and Rombauer — the Preakness winner.

But once they hit the midway point down the backstretch, Essential Quality and jockey Luis Saez started to make moves, passing Rombauer and moving into fourth ahead of the third turn. And by the time they entered the final turn in the longest Triple Crown race, Essential Quality was running three-wide on the outside of Hot Rod Charlie and Rock Your World.

Racing together for a nail-biting finish, Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie ran side-by-side in the final stretch before Essential Quality ultimately pulled away to win the 2021 Belmont Stakes.

Essential Quality is the winner of the 2021 @BelmontStakes! pic.twitter.com/XyV048FuMZ

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 5, 2021

What a finish!

Here’s a look at the whole race:

TOO GOOD.

ESSENTIAL QUALITY WINS THE 153rd @BelmontStakes!

NBC Sports // @WhiteClaw pic.twitter.com/hGMyNuVqV6

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 5, 2021

Unofficially, Rombauer and Known Agenda finished third and fourth, respectively, behind Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie.