In Excess Sets Belmont Record : Horse racing: Colt wins Suburban Handicap in 1:58 1/5, barely missing world record.

NEW YORK —  Any doubts about In Excess being able to win at 1 1/4 miles were quickly erased Thursday at Belmont Park.

In fact, they were erased in track-record time in the $500,000 Suburban Handicap.

The 4-year-old colt won for first time in three tries at that distance in 1:58 1/5, smashing the Belmont record of 1:59 2/5 set by Alysheba on Sept. 17, 1988.

In Excess came within two-fifths second of equaling the world record set by Spectacular Bid on Feb. 3, 1980.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, In Excess carried 119 pounds home one length in front of Chief Honcho (115) with Killer Diller (113) another six lengths back.

Completing the order of finish were Montubio, Izvestia, De Roche and Sound of Cannons.

Bruce Jackson, who trains In Excess, at least equaled the world record for understatement by saying, “He’s a very fast horse.”

In Excess took the lead with about three-quarters of a mile remaining. The fractions of his record run were 23 4/5 for the first quarter-mile, 47 for the half, 1:10 for three quarters and 1:34 for the mile.

“This horse was just loping along on the lead, then at about the eighth pole he found third gear,” Stevens said. “I asked him for run then and he fired.”

It was the third victory in five races on the dirt for the Irish-bred In Excess, who made his first 12 starts on the grass and won six of them.

The losses on dirt included a third in the Charles H. Strub and a fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap, both at 1 1/4 miles.

“He’s a different horse from the last time he ran a mile and a quarter,” Jackson said. “He wasn’t at his best then. He’s filled out now. He just wasn’t the same as he was back in the Santa Anita Handicap (on March 9).”

In Excess’ previous race was a victory in the one-mile Metropolitan Handicap on May 27 at Belmont.

In Excess returned $4, $3 and $2.60. His success completed a stakes double for Stevens.

He rode Zama Hummer to a 2 1/4-length victory over Missy’s Mirage in the $124,600 Prioress for 3-year-old fillies. Zama Hummer raced six furlongs under 114 pounds in 1:09 4/5 and paid $10.40 to win.