A Sunday that began tragically for trainer Christophe Clement ended triumphantly when Therapist outfinished Majestic Dunhill to win the $80,000 First Defence Stakes by a head at Belmont Park. The victory, Clement’s second on the card, came about 15 hours after 10 of his horses died when a van bringing them from Florida to New York caught fire on the New Jersey Turnpike. “I guess it’s a good end to an obviously awful day,” Clement said. Therapist, Clement and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had to withstand an objection from Reylu Gutierrez aboard Majestic Dunhill, who alleged interference for a brushing incident in deep stretch. Though Therapist did come in about three paths and brushed with Majestic Dunhill, the stewards ruled it did not affect the outcome of the race. “They were close and thank God it happened at the wire,” Clement said. :: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more. The win was the fourth on the card for Ortiz, who finished the week 13 or 29 and did not ride Friday. “I held my line pretty well,” Ortiz said. “Right there, at the wire, it got close, but I controlled him right away.” Therapist broke from the outside post in the 13-horse field and was eighth early on while four paths wide while Nicodemus and Vici dueled through a half-mile in 45.52 seconds. Majestic Dunhill, who was sixth under Gutierrez, made a five-wide move while Ortiz followed that rival and came six wide in the stretch. Those two ran together through the lane while Therapist was gradually moving in, forcing Majestic Dunhill in as well. They brushed late, and jockey Jose Ortiz checked very late on Flavius, who was third. Following Flavius in the order of finish were Seismic Wave, Hawkish, Vici, Sombeyay, Delaware, Honor Up, Win Win Win and Lonhtwist – who dead-heated for 10th – Skyler’s Scramjet, and Nicodemus. Therapist, a 5-year-old gelding by Freud, covered the seven furlongs in 1:21.39 and returned $18.60. Therapist won for the eighth time in 17 starts for Clement and Oak Bluff Stables. “Everything Irad Ortiz is riding at the moment wins,” Clement said. “He had a terrible draw, he was wide; well done Irad.” Though Therapist is best at seven furlongs, Clement will have a trio of races to choose from that are six furlongs (Banrock), a mile (Grade 3 Poker), or 1 1/16 miles (Kingston) in the first week of July.