Freefourinternet by a nose

ELMONT, N.Y. - Freefourinternet came from last to first to win Saturday's $350,000 at Belmont Park by a nose over Proud Man.

Proud Man was a length in front of his stablemate, Rouvres, the third-place finisher. Decarchy, the 2-1 favorite and 118-pound highweight, was fourth. Millennium Dragon, Runspastum, Pay the Preacher, North East Bound, Mercenary, and Del Mar Show completed the order of finish.

Joan Scott, who took out her trainer's license just last year, trains Freefourinternet. The Grade 2 Kelso was Scott's first stakes win.

Freefourinternet, who was ridden by Jose Espinoza, trailed the field for the first six furlongs of the mile race, circled the field at the top of the stretch, and stormed down the middle of the Widener course. The winner had to hold off a late charge from Proud Man.

Freefourinternet ($43.20) covered the distance in 1:34.73 over a firm course. The winner carried 113 pounds.

The Kelso win was the first in a stakes since 1999 for Espinoza, who was riding Freefourinternet for the first time.

"This is a pretty nice horse," Espinoza said. "My brother, Victor, had ridden this horse, so I knew a little about him. Once I got him in the clear, he took off."

Ron and Amy Peltz, who run under the name Equirace Stable, own Freefourinternet, a 5-year-old son of Tabasco Cat. Scott, 36, trains out of the High Point Training Center in La Grange, Ky.

"I thought he would run better than [his odds]," Scott said. "I was concerned about other horses in the race, but I would rather be 20-1 than 5-1 any day. My main concern was the mile. I think a little more distance suits him better."

Scott said the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 is a possibility for Freefourinternet, who finished second in the Grade 2 Firecracker at Churchill Downs on July 5.