Before he ruined Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown bid four years ago when Birdstone won the Belmont Stakes, Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito had been 0-for-11 in the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion.”

In the next few years, six others failed him in the oldest and longest leg of the Triple Crown.

But Zito believes in racing, has a profound respect for its history and points for the biggest races at the biggest meets. He keeps plugging.

And so, on Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 94,476, Zito again was rewarded for his participation, as Robert V. LaPenta’s Da’Tara lead all the way to win the 140th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes by five and a quarter lengths over Denis of Cork. In so doing, he ruined the Triple Crown hopes of Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner Big Brown, who was eased in the stretch.

For Zito, the opportunity for the upset was obvious. Last Friday, Big Brown developed a quarter crack on his left forehoof. While Big Brown’s trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr. and hoof specialist Ian McKinlay monitored the situation and assured everyone that all was well, Zito felt he had other factors in his favor.

“I told Bob (LaPenta, owner) he ran (second) in the Barbaro (at Pimlico),” Zito said. “I was disappointed he didn’t win, but it was a great race and he got like a 92 (speed figure) and so did Macho Again. And everybody said, and rightfully so, that Macho Again was an upcoming horse and he’s doing good. I said, `I think Da’Tara can be just as good as him.

“Looking over the PPs, I don’t think Big Brown wanted the lead. I said, `I think we’re the only speed. Let’s take a shot.’”

So, with 96-degree temperature, a fast horse and the mile and a half of the Belmont facing a horse with a quarter crack, Zito felt there was a lot going against the champion.

There was also one less horse to worry about.

Casino Drive, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan and a half-brother to 2006 Belmont winner Jazil and a three-quarter brother to 2007 Belmont winner Rags to Riches, was scratched early Saturday because of a re-aggravated bruise on his left-hind hoof. He was widely seen as the second choice in the Belmont behind Big Brown.

Breaking from post 5, Da’Tara and jockey Alan Garcia angled to the inside and opened a lead with Wood Memorial winner Tale of Ekati and Big Brown right behind. Their’s was a reasonable pace of 23.82, .48.30, 1:12.90.

At about the time most of the fans were expecting Big Brown to fire, it became clear that another Triple Crown was not going to happen this day.

“About 100 yards before the final turn, the five-eighths pole, I didn’t care if we went 55 for the half,” said Big Brown’s Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux. “I thought that would play right into my hand because I thought I had the best horse with a turn of foot. I was keeping an eye on the horse in front and thought, `Okay, let’s engage and let’s at least keep him honest.’ And I was done. I had no horse.”

As Big Brown retreated, Da’Tara’s lead grew.and it became clear that Zito had rolled the dice and nailed a 7. It sure took the sting out of losing 2007 juvenile champion War Pass to injury after his Wood Memorial loss to Tale of Ekati.

“You can’t take anything for granted in this business,” Zito said. “You’ve got to thank your lucky stars and you, know, we’re blessed.

“I like the sport. Of course, if Big Brown was himself, he would have been tough to beat. But he wasn’t himself. That’s why they play the game. There’s highs and lows, but what can I say? Another Triple Crown race and this Belmont was very special today.”

Da’Tara, a son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow, returned $79 to win.

Saturday night, Dutrow said that all appeared well with Big Brown, making his race that much more of a mystery.

“I don’t really know how I feel,” Dutrow said. “We did really good with him. It was a very disappointing race, but the horse looks like he’s fine. At right now, I can say , it looks like he’ll live a good life if he never races again. He didn’t get the Triple Crown, but we got the Derby and the Preakness and that was great. Right now, we’re trying to figure out what happened in the race. Everyone who was a Big Brown fan, I’m sure, was disappointed, just like I am. But, we’re going to check him out and see if he is okay. If we’re sure he is 100 percent getting back into training, we’ll go forward with him. If not, I’m sure we’ll just do the next thing, which is to retire him.

“Something has to not be right for him to pulled up in a race, so I have to try to find out what it is. I’m sure it’s not the horse’s fault, so there’s nothing to be down on him.”

At the barn, trainer Bob Baffert took it upon himself to console Dutrow. Baffert was twice denied the Triple Crown with Silver Charm in 1997 and Real Quiet in 1998.

The conversation was private.

But Baffert almost certainly told him to keep trying.

That’s why they play the game.