Keep Laughing takes to the mud, wins Belmont feature by 3 lengths over Drift King

Keep Laughing wins Belmont feature

NEW YORK — Keep Laughing, running on a wet track for the first time, splashed through the mud Thursday to beat Drift King by 3 lengths in the $49,000 allowance feature at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old ran the six furlongs in 1:09.97. He paid $8.40, $4.10 and $3.10 in improving to 4-for-8 as the 3-1 second choice. Drift King returned $6.10 and $4.10. Shoptate earned $3.70 to show. Fidelio, the 6-5 favorite, ran fifth.

Keep Laughing was ridden by Alan Garcia and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the same team that sends out Charitable Man on Saturday in the Belmont Stakes.