Sovereignty, the victor of the Kentucky Derby, thrashes Journalism once more to claim victory in the 157th edition of the Belmont Stakes.
In a thrilling rematch, Kentucky Derby champion Sovereignty claimed the prize once more at the 157th Belmont Stakes in muddy Saratoga Springs, New York. This handsome bay colt outlasted seven contenders, replicating the identical 1-2-3 finish from the Derby with Journalism in second and Baeza in third. Sovereignty crossed the finish line in a swift 2 minutes, 0.69 seconds, outpacing Journalism by a commanding three lengths.
Despite entering as the underdog with 2-to-1 odds, Sovereignty proved his mettle and became the first horse in history to win the Derby, forego the Preakness Stakes, and claim the Belmont Stakes victory. The last horse to conquer both the Derby and Belmont in a Triple Crown attempt was Thunder Gulch in 1995.
Journalism, who had stormed to victory in the Preakness, entered the Belmont as the heavy favorite, making history by being the only horse to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year. Bob Baffert-trained Rodriguez also joined the Belmont fray, having been scratched from the Derby due to a minor foot bruise that kept him out of the Preakness, as well.
Godolphin, the racing stable of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, owns Sovereignty, with Bill Mott overseeing training duties. Junior Alvarado, who rode Sovereigny to Derby glory, once again took the reins on race day. Alvarado faces a $62,000 fine and a two-racing-day suspension in Kentucky due to alleged excessive use of the riding crop in the Derby; he is currently appealing the decision.
The Belmont Stakes took place for the second consecutive year at the renowned Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York, while Belmont Park undergoes a massive $450 million renovation. Thanks to its temporary Saratoga location, the Belmont's distance was reduced to 1 1/4 miles, identical to the Derby. This year's Belmont lived up to its "Test of the Champion" nickname.
Historically, a Kentucky Derby winner skipping the Preakness Stakes and winning the Belmont Stakes has been a rare occurrence. Sovereignty (2025) made history by becoming the first horse to achieve this feat.[3][4][5] Aristides (1875), Baden-Baden (1877), Count Turf (1951), Gato Del Sol (1982), and Rich Strike (2022) all attempted the Preakness-skip, Belmont-win combination but were unsuccessful. [5] Sovereigny's 2025 victory is therefore significant in Triple Crown history.
In light of Sovereignty's achievement, it may spark a debate about the law's existing regulations regarding horse racing and the potential benefits of altering them. For instance, if Junior Alvarado's suspension was to occur, it could create a dilemma for Godolphin and Sovereignty, as they might need to find a new jockey for upcoming sports events, possibly affecting their performance.
