Belmont: Sherpa Guide takes Evan Shipman

ELMONT, N.Y. - Sherpa Guide rallied from last to win the restricted $81,475 Evan Shipman Stakes by three lengths on closing day at Belmont Park. Turnofthecentury, who set the pace until deep stretch, finished second, a neck in front of Mount Intrepid.

It was the third consecutive victory and first career stakes win for Sherpa Guide, a 4-year-old New York-bred gelded son of Ends Well owned by Berkshire Stud and trained by Tom Walsh.

Jose Santos was content to let Sherpa Guide sit in last, seven lengths behind Turnofthecentury who ran uncontested on the lead through a half-mile. Sherpa Guide came four wide turning for home and wore down Turnofthecentury approaching the sixteenth pole. Sherpa Guide covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.71 over a fast track and returned $5 as the favorite.

Earlier on the card, Blink Twice won a maiden special weight race for juveniles giving trainer Todd Pletcher his meet-leading 30th victory. John Velazquez won the jockey's title with 58 wins, 12 more than Edgar Prado.