Drosselmeyer, left out of the Kentucky Derby because he failed to earn enough money, outlasted a couple of Dudes and held off Fly Down by three-quarters of a length to win the final leg of the Triple Crown.
The win by the gleaming 3-year-old chestnut colt ended Smith's 0 for 12 riding record in the Belmont, and gave Mott his first victory in a Triple Crown race.
"To finally win this one," said Smith, "unbelievable."
With neither Derby winner Super Saver nor Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky in the field, the 1 1/2-mile Belmont looked to be a matchup of classic runner-ups – Ice Box from the Derby vs. First Dude from the Preakness.
First Dude took the lead, but couldn't hold off Drosselmeyer in the stretch and finished third after giving way to Fly Down in the final strides.
Ice Box, the 9-5 favorite trained by Nick Zito, was never in contention and finished ninth in the 12-horse field. Zito's Fly Down ended up as the 5-1 second choice.
The victory reaffirmed Drosselmeyer's talent. Purchased by WinStar Farm for $600,000, the colt started his career on turf, won two races on dirt, then went 0 for 3 in the Risen Star, Louisiana Derby and the Dwyer, where he was beaten by six lengths by Fly Down on May 8.
"It all came together," said Mott, best known as the trainer of the great Cigar in 1995-96. "I think it was just a matter of time with some of the good horses I get to train that it was going to happen."
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