Sovereignty beats Journalism in Belmont Stakes

· UPI

June 7 (UPI) -- Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty ran right by Preakness Stakes winner Journalism at mid-stretch and charged on to a definitive victory in Saturday's $2 million, Grade I Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York.

Sovereignty and Journalism finished first and second, repectively, in the Derby. While Journalism went on to win the Preakness Stakes, middle jewel of the Triple Crown, two weeks later, trainer Bill Mott rested Sovereignty for the Belmont. The five-week respite paid off.

Baeza, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, was third again in the Belmont, also after taking the intervening five weeks off. That finish promises a refreshing rivalry through the remainder of the colts' 3-year-old campaign that might not be decided until the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

It was not only the order of finish that replicated the Derby, but the way it was run that was similar.

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Just as in Louisville, Ky., Journalism took the lead early in the stretch run, only to see Sovereignty, with Junior Alvarado in the irons, run by him to a 1 1/2-length victory. And, just as he did at Churchill Downs, Baeza ralled from well back to take third in the Belmont.

He was going away at the finish, winning by open lengths while finishing the 1 1/4 miles on a fast track in 2:00.69.

The jockeys of the first two finishers, Alvarado and Umberto Rispoli on Journalism, shared a moment of mutual congratulations as they pulled up their mounts on the backstretch. Alvarado tipped his hat to his defeated rival.

"That horse [Journalism] run amazing today, coming back after the Preakness and then today he fought very hard. He didn't make it easy for my horse," Alvarado said.

Sovereignty is owned by his breeder, Godolphin, a global operation founded by Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.

"To come back here again after that victory in the Kentucky Derby and to beat a really, really good horse, it was a fantastic result for us today," said Godolphin's U.S. representative, Michael Banahan.

Mott, a Hall of Fame trainer and veteran of many racetrack wars, said the consistent performances by Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza, confirm their quality.

"We had a repeat of the Derby. By the tote board, it looks like the first three finishers in the Derby finished 1-2-3 here," Mott said in the Saratoga winner's circle before the race was made official.

"I think the form is holding up. I think what it means is, it's for real. They're three really good horses, and I'm glad that he was able to come back and put in a good race, like he did in the Derby."

Asked about the decision to skip the Preakness and a chance to win the Triple Crown, Mott admitted it was a risk.

"Well, it turned out good. If we wouldn't have won today, we would have taken a lot of criticism. But it turned out good. Sometimes you make the right decision. A lot of times you make the wrong ones. But today, everything worked out well."

Sovereignty, a son of Into Mischief, was defeated in his first two starts in 2024 and then won the Grade III Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs by 5 lengths before taking his winter break.

He returned to win the Grade II Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut and finished second in the Grade I Florida Derby before the triumph in Louisville.

Mott and the Godolphin team wasted no time announcing they would not pursue the Triple Crown, leaving the Preakness open to Journalism's moment in the sun.

The Belmont Stakes was run at Saratoga in upstate New York for the second straight year while Belmont Park, on Long Island, is being rebuilt. To conform with the dimensions of the Saratoga layout, the race also was shortened from the traditional 1 1/2 miles to the 1 1/4 miles run last year and Saturday.