A stumble at the start cost Belmont Stakes favourite War Emblem his chance of becoming the first Triple Crown hero since 1978 on Saturday.

But the race still made history as Sarava at 70-1 became the longest ever priced winner of the prestigious event.

The long shot, ridden by Edgar Prado, came home half a length ahead of Medaglia d'Oro with Sunday Break another nine and a half lengths back in third.

War Emblem nearly fell coming out of the gate and made up ground in the middle of the race, but flattened in the stretch and finished eighth of the 11 runners.

For Sarava's trainer Ken McPeek, the victory was a measure of revenge in this year's Triple Crown series.

He had the favourite Harlan's Holiday in the Kentucky Derby, but the colt struggled and finished well beaten.

"I believe that when something bad happens then something equally as good is going to happen," McPeek said.

Baffert could only watch helplessly as War Emblem stumbled as he broke from stall 10 and had to be hustled by jockey Victor Espinoza to even get into the race.

"If I had had a walkie-talkie on him (Espinoza), I would have told him to just pull him up," said Baffert. "It was lost at the start."