updated 5:41 p.m. ET June 24, 2005

NEW YORK - This ride was as smooth and impressive as his Preakness win was harrowing.

Scattering rivals with a stunning move on the far turn, Afleet Alex rolled to a seven-length victory in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, the last and longest of the Triple Crown legs.

Jockey Jeremy Rose turned him loose on the turn for home and Afleet Alex responded with locomotive-like power to blow away Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and nine helpless rivals.

“He’s a beast, he’s a freak of nature, he’s made out of steel,” Rose said. “He’s the best 3-year-old in the country.”

With no Triple Crown at stake, 62,274 racing fans at Belmont Park had to settle for watching an amazing colt who averted disaster by a whisker last month at Pimlico when he tangled with another horse and was nearly knocked to his knees.

Rose somehow managed to hang onto his mount in that ride; this time, he was just along for the ride.

“The only thing that was going to get him beat was me, so I just tried to just stay out of his way and let him do his thing and help in the last part,” Rose said.

FREE VIDEO 'Like a freight train' June 11: Jockey Jeremy Rose and others react to Afleet Alex's Belmont victory. NBC Sports

Rose blamed himself for his colt’s lost shot at racing immortality.

“He should be a Triple Crown winner, but I messed up,” Rose said, referring to Afleet Alex’s third-place finish at Churchill Downs, where he was beaten by two long shots.

But, hey, two out of three ain’t bad, with Afleet Alex becoming just the 11th thoroughbred to win the Preakness and Belmont after running — but not winning — the Derby. Among the elite group are Native Dancer, Nashua and Damascus, each of whom just missed in the Derby, too.

Afleet Alex easily won his rubber match with Giacomo, who finished seventh in the field of 11 3-year-olds. Andromeda’s Hero was second and Nolan’s Cat was third.

“I thought I had a good chance to win, but Afleet Alex went by me too fast,” said jockey Edgar Prado, who was aboard fourth-place finisher Indy Storm.

Afleet Alex dropped back early as long shot Pinpoint towed the field through a moderate pace. Giacomo, with Mike Smith aboard, was right off the leaders and made his move on the final sweeping turn. But just when it looked as though the Derby winner was going to roll to victory, Afleet Alex burst through and stormed into the lead.

HORSE RACING Preakness and Belmont winners 2005 — Afleet Alex 2001 — Point Given 1994 — Tabasco Cat 1991 — Hansel 1988 — Risen Star 1974 — Little Current 1967 — Damascus 1955 — Nashua 1953 — Native Dancer 1949 — Capot 1940 — Bimelech 1922 — Pillory 1920 — Man o’ War 1895 — Belmar 1881 — Saunterer 1880 — Grenada 1878 — Duke of Magenta 1877 — Cloverbrook

Giacomo never mounted another threat and faded in the stretch, while trainer Nick Zito finally hit the board in this year’s Triple Crown series with Andromeda’s Hero. It was Zito’s sixth runner-up finish in the Belmont, and a year after he won with Birdstone.

Winning time for the race was 2:28.75, well off Secretariat’s record of 2:24 in 1973. Afleet Alex finished so strongly, he ran the final quarter mile in 24.50 seconds, a half-second faster than Secretariat. To keep things in perspective, however, Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths.

Nolan’s Cat, winless in five previous starts, was 6¾ lengths behind Andromeda’s Hero. Indy Storm was fourth, followed by A.P. Arrow, Chekhov, Giacomo, Southern Africa, Watchmon, Reverberate and Pinpoint.

Smith said Giacomo had a breathing problem during the race. “He flipped his palate real bad, you can hear it. He made a loud, roaring noise.”

Sent off as the even-money favorite, Afleet Alex returned $4.30, $3.60 and $3. Andromeda’s Hero, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, paid $8.20 and $5.80. Nolan’s Cat, with Norberto Arroyo Jr., paid $7.20 to show.

Afleet Alex became just the second favorite in the last 10 years to win the 1½-mile Belmont, where four of the previous six races produced huge payoffs. Last year, Birdstone spoiled Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown try and returned $74 for a $2 win ticket. In 2002, Sarava won and paid $142.50.

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