1 of three | Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, wins the 157th working of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Saturday. Kentucky Derby-winning Sovereignty beat Preakness winner Journalism to take two legs of the Triple Crown. Picture by Mark Abraham/UPI | License Picture
June 7 (UPI) — Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty ran proper 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 completed first and second, repectively, within the Derby. Whereas Journalism went on to win the Preakness Stakes, center jewel of the Triple Crown, two weeks later, coach Invoice Mott rested Sovereignty for the Belmont. The five-week respite paid off.
Baeza, who completed third within the Kentucky Derby, was third once more within the Belmont, additionally after taking the intervening 5 weeks off. That end guarantees a refreshing rivalry by way of the rest of the colts’ 3-year-old marketing campaign that may not be determined till the Breeders’ Cup Basic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Membership.
It was not solely the order of end that replicated the Derby, however the best way it was run that was comparable.
Simply as in Louisville, Ky., Journalism took the lead early within the stretch run, solely to see Sovereignty, with Junior Alvarado within the irons, run by him to a 1 1/2-length victory. And, simply as he did at Churchill Downs, Baeza ralled from nicely again to take third within the Belmont.
He was going away on the end, successful by open lengths whereas ending the 1 1/4 miles on a quick monitor in 2:00.69.
The jockeys of the primary two finishers, Alvarado and Umberto Rispoli on Journalism, shared a second of mutual congratulations as they pulled up their mounts on the backstretch. Alvarado tipped his hat to his defeated rival.
“That horse [Journalism] run wonderful right this moment, coming again after the Preakness after which right this moment he fought very arduous. He did not make it straightforward for my horse,” Alvarado mentioned.
Sovereignty is owned by his breeder, Godolphin, a worldwide operation based by Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.
“To come back again right here once more after that victory within the Kentucky Derby and to beat a very, actually good horse, it was a incredible end result for us right this moment,” mentioned Godolphin’s U.S. consultant, Michael Banahan.
Mott, a Corridor of Fame coach and veteran of many racetrack wars, mentioned the constant performances by Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza, affirm their high quality.
“We had a repeat of the Derby. By the tote board, it appears to be like like the primary three finishers within the Derby completed 1-2-3 right here,” Mott mentioned within the Saratoga winner’s circle earlier than the race was made official.
“I believe the shape is holding up. I believe what it means is, it is for actual. They’re three actually good horses, and I am glad that he was capable of come again and put in race, like he did within the Derby.”
Requested concerning the determination to skip the Preakness and an opportunity to win the Triple Crown, Mott admitted it was a threat.
“Effectively, it turned out good. If we would not have received right this moment, we might have taken plenty of criticism. However it turned out good. Generally you make the suitable determination. A whole lot of instances you make the improper ones. However right this moment, the whole lot labored out nicely.”
Sovereignty, a son of Into Mischief, was defeated in his first two begins in 2024 after which received the Grade III Avenue Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs by 5 lengths earlier than taking his winter break.
He returned to win the Grade II Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut and completed second within the Grade I Florida Derby earlier than the triumph in Louisville.
Mott and the Godolphin crew wasted no time saying they’d not pursue the Triple Crown, leaving the Preakness open to Journalism’s second within the solar.
The Belmont Stakes was run at Saratoga in upstate New York for the second straight 12 months whereas Belmont Park, on Lengthy Island, is being rebuilt. To adapt with the size of the Saratoga structure, the race additionally was shortened from the standard 1 1/2 miles to the 1 1/4 miles run final 12 months and Saturday.