Velazquez earns Belmont riding crown

The Belmont Park spring/summer riding title literally went down to the wire Sunday as John Velazquez captured the final race of the day to edge Edgar Prado, 66-65, for the crown.

Velazquez's margin of victory in the 55-day meet came down to his triumph aboard Exaltado in the last race of the meet, holding off a late-charge by Prado, who settled for runner-up honors in the race - and meet - on St. Sunset.

Richard Dutrow Jr. earned his first career trainer's title, with 20 victories at the meet.

Fourth and Six ($9.30) prevailed in the closing day featured stakes, the $75,000 Evan Shipman Handicap, notching a 2 3/4-length victory over Duplicitous.

Shut Out Time was third in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for New York State-breds. Toddler, the 3-2 favorite, was fifth in the field of five.

Racing in New York will resume Wednesday with the opening of the highly anticipated Saratoga meet.