Sovereignty, Journalism, and a Belmont Stakes That Promises It All
- Turf Diario
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
The field of eight for the final leg of the U.S. Triple Crown was confirmed Monday, with Saratoga set to host the storied event this Saturday. Live coverage will be available throughout Argentina and Latin America via ESPN and Disney+
SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the GI Kentucky Derby hero, and Journalism (Curlin), winner of the GI Preakness Stakes and runner-up at Churchill Downs, will headline a field of eight set to contest the 157th running of the GI Belmont Stakes this Saturday at Saratoga. The race, sponsored by NYRA Bets, will carry a $2-million purse and will be held at Saratoga for the second straight year due to ongoing renovations at Belmont Park.
The highly anticipated Belmont Stakes Day will feature a blockbuster 14-race card highlighted by eight graded stakes, five of them at the Grade I level, including the day's centerpiece. The lineup also includes a pair of Win and You're Inqualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup: the $1-million GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap at a mile on dirt, and the $500,000 GI Jaipur at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.
The Belmont Stakes has been slotted as Race 13, with post time scheduled for 7:04 p.m. ET (8:04 p.m. in Argentina). The day’s action begins at 10:45 a.m., and gates will open to the public at 9:00 a.m.
Good news for Latin American fans: live coverage will be available from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Argentina time on ESPN and Disney+.
Due to the configuration of the Saratoga oval, the Belmont will again be run over 1 1/4 miles instead of its traditional 1 1/2-mile distance.
Carrying the royal blue silks of Godolphin, Sovereignty will break from post 2 under Venezuelan-born Junior Alvarado and was pegged as the 2-1 morning-line favorite. Trained by Bill Mott, the bay colt unleashed a powerful stretch run to take the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Journalism, overcoming a rough start that saw him trail in 16th position early on a sloppy track.
“He’s done very well since the Derby,” said Mott, who previously won the Belmont with Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor) in 2010. “He’s made steady progress, training well, eating well. We’re really pleased with how he’s coming into the race.”
Michael Banahan of Godolphin USA added: “He’s in fantastic condition. He came out of Churchill in great shape and has settled in beautifully at Saratoga. The Derby was always the big target—one that Sheikh Mohammed had dreamed of winning—and we were lucky to achieve that with Sovereignty.”
A winner of the GII Fountain of Youth and the GIII Street Sense, Sovereignty was runner-up to Tappan Street (Into Mischief) in the GI Florida Derby before securing his signature victory. His second dam is Mushka (Empire Maker), winner of the GI Spinster and also trained by Mott.
Journalism, the valiant Preakness winner, will seek revenge on Sovereignty in Saratoga. The chestnut will break from post 7 under Umberto Rispoli and is the 8-5 second choice on the morning line after outgaming Gosger (Nyquist) by a half-length in Baltimore.
“His Preakness win speaks for itself,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “He and the jockey both showed a lot of grit. He’s been training well and seems to love Saratoga.”
Undefeated in four starts before the Derby—including the GII San Felipe and the GI Santa Anita Derby—Journalismraces for a powerhouse partnership that includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Don Alberto Stable, Bridlewood Farm, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Coolmore, and others.
McCarthy acknowledged the importance of a clean break: “He had a rough start in the Derby. I’d like to see him get away cleanly and establish better position early.”
Always dangerous, Baeza (McKinzie) checked in third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Sovereignty in the Derby after breaking from a wide draw in post 19 under Flavien Prat. Trained by John Shirreffs, he drew post 6 and is listed at 4-1.
“I’m really happy with how he’s come into Saratoga,” said Shirreffs. “He ran a strong race in the Derby despite a difficult trip.”
A half-brother to 2023 Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and 2024 Belmont winner Dornoch (Good Magic), Baeza is aiming to extend a rich family tradition. A $1.2-million Keeneland purchase, he also finished second to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby.
Rodriguez (Authentic) will represent Bob Baffert, who seeks a fourth Belmont victory after previous wins with Point Given (2001), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018). Scratched from the Derby due to a foot issue, Rodriguez returns under Mike Smith without blinkers and will break from post 3 at 6-1.
Winner of the GII Wood Memorial in his last outing, Baffert said: “He’s doing great. He’s up against top horses like Sovereignty and Journalism, but I feel confident. He reminds me a lot of his sire—light, quick, and improving.”
Absent from both the Derby and the Preakness, Chad Brown will send out Hill Road (Quality Road), a convincing winner of the GIII Peter Pan, the local prep for the Belmont. Drawn on the rail with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, he’s 10-1 on the morning line.
“We know he’s facing a major test against Derby and Preakness winners, but he’s been moving forward the right way,” said Brown. “And he’ll be ridden by a jockey who’s already won this race.”
Rounding out the field are:
Heart of Honor (Honor A.P.), a British-bred who finished fifth in the Preakness and will be ridden by Saffie Osborne from post 8 (30-1);
Crudo (Justify), dominant winner of the Sir Barton on Preakness Day, breaking from post 5 with John Velazquez aboard (15-1);
Uncaged (Curlin), sixth in the Peter Pan, drawing post 4 with Luis Saez in the irons (30-1).
It will mark the first time since 2013 that the top three finishers from the Kentucky Derby return to meet in the Belmont. With elite talent, renowned trainers, and a compelling storyline of redemption, the 157th edition of the Test of the Champion promises high drama from start to finish.
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