Favored at 2-5 and under the guidance of Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Comfort broke from the rail and held his inside position as Baccelo led a tightly bunched field of five through an opening quarter mile in 23.57 seconds and a half in 47.02. Settled about two lengths from the leader, Velazquez asked for run as the field rounded the far turn.

The 4-year-old Indian Charlie colt angled wide into the stretch as Touchofstarquality overtook the pacesetter. The pair traded bobs down to the wire as Comfort emerged victorious in a tight photo for the win, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.28.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the winner returned $2.90 for a $2 win ticket

"He broke good enough and I tried to keep it at close as I can," said Velazquez. "The dirt started hitting him and he started backing up, and I said 'this is no time to back up, you got to keep going forward.' I was fine when I got him to the outside. But he was giving me everything he could. I just got barely got it. I'm really proud of him."

A $45,000 yearling purchase, Comfort notched his first stakes victory in the State Dinner over the local track in July and went on to finish second in his Grade 1 debut, coming within two lengths of Frosted in the Whitney on August 6 at Saratoga Race Course. The Seattle Slew was his fifth overall victory from nine starts for career earnings of $459,340.

Now perfect in three starts at Belmont, Comfort is possible to return in the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 8, said Pletcher's Belmont-based assistant Byron Hughes.