Ironicus wins Belmont feature

NEW YORK (AP) Ironicus followed his victory in the Dixie Stakes with an easy triumph as the heavy favorite Wednesday in the $85,000 allowance feature on the

NEW YORK (AP) Ironicus followed his victory in the Dixie Stakes with an easy triumph as the heavy favorite Wednesday in the $85,000 allowance feature on the turf at Belmont Park.

The Dixie on the Preakness undercard was the first stakes win for the gray 4-year-old trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. The latest victory by the 2-5 shot was a tuneup for Saratoga, and a possible run in the Fourstardave Stakes on Aug. 15.

Ironicus pounced on the leaders with a four-wide move turning for home and steadily advanced to beat the pacesetting Tetradrachm by 1 1/4 lengths. Cornelio Velasquez was aboard for the mile in 1:32.71 on the firm course.

Now 4 for 9, Ironicus paid $2.90, $2.10 and $2.10.