At Saratoga Springs, NY, Sovereignty triumphed over Journalism in a thrilling rematch of the Kentucky Derby at the 157th Belmont Stakes held at the Saratoga racecourse on Saturday. This race featured winners from both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but uniquely, one horse had already secured two legs of the Triple Crown.
Trainer Bill Mott praised the competitors, calling them three exceptional horses and expressed his satisfaction with Sovereignty’s performance, reminiscent of the Kentucky Derby. This marked Mott’s second Belmont win, making the victory particularly meaningful as he manages racehorses in Saratoga throughout most of the summer. He highlighted the race as a home event and complimented jockey Junior Alvarado’s skillful ride.
The Belmont Stakes, traditionally held at Belmont Park in Long Island, was hosted for the second time in Saratoga due to renovations. Rodriguez, making his Triple Crown debut, led the pack in the 1¼ mile race until Journalism surged forward in the final stretch. However, Sovereignty, closely guided by Alvarado, swiftly overpowered Journalism and secured a decisive victory by three lengths with a finishing time of 2:00.69.
Alvarado recounted how the horse broke well and was in a great position throughout the race, noting his surprise at how close the competition was but satisfaction with how easily Sovereignty handled it. Journalism finished second once again, followed by Baeza in third, replicating their placements from the Kentucky Derby. Journalism, having competed in all three Triple Crown races, was the 2-1 favorite entering Belmont, while Baeza was third favorite at 7-2.
Sovereignty’s win paid $7 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.30 to show. Journalism returned $3.20 and $2.30, and Baeza paid $2.60. Sovereignty had kickstarted the Triple Crown series by winning the Derby in early May and had maintained strong competition against Journalism.
After capturing two legs of the Triple Crown, Sovereignty’s team, owned by Godolphin, chose not to run in the Preakness to focus on the Belmont, a decision supported by trainer Mott and Godolphin’s Michael Banahan. They felt it was best for the horse’s long-term future to rest and target upcoming races, including the prestigious Travers Stakes at Saratoga later in August. Mott expressed a desire to compete and hopefully win the Travers, a race he has yet to capture, emphasizing its importance for a promising three-year-old like Sovereignty.
Fan Take: This exciting Belmont Stakes showdown showcases the rising future stars in horse racing, reminding fans of the sport’s thrilling unpredictability. With upcoming clashes like the Travers Stakes on the horizon, Sovereignty and Journalism’s rivalry promises to keep fans engaged and elevate the sport’s competitive spirit.
