Sovereignty won the 157th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, finishing just ahead of the favorite Journalism to win another jewel of the Triple Crown.
The race taking place at Saratoga meant a slightly shorter distance was run than the typical Belmont Stakes.
Since Sovereignty—last month’s Kentucky Derby winner—didn’t race at Preakness this year, a Triple Crown title was off the table heading into the final jewel.
Baeza also finished third on Saturday, the same result he had in the Kentucky Derby.
Sovereignty had the chance to make history, but his trainer, Bill Mott, instead chose to skip the Preakness Stakes last month and shift the focus toward the Belmont Stakes.
The 157th Belmont Stakes was won by Sovereignty on Saturday, who finished just ahead of the favorite Journalism to take home another Triple Crown jewel.
Rodriguez took the lead early on, but Journalism quickly overtook him after the halfway point. However, Sovereignty’s late kick put an end to any doubt as he separated from the group in the closing seconds.
This year’s race was held at Saratoga Race Course’s 1 1/4-mile track, as Belmont Park is still being renovated. Since the race was held at Saratoga, it was a little shorter than the Belmont Stakes.
A Triple Crown victory was out of the question going into the final jewel because Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby winner from last month, did not compete at Preakness this year. In 2018, Justify solidified his legacy as the last horse to win the Triple Crown.
Finished Order.
sovereignty.
journalism.
Baeza. .
Rodriguez. .
crude.
Road Hill.
Free.
Honorable Heart.
payouts (calculated using a $2 wager).
Win: Sovereignty; $2.30 show, $3.20 place, $7 win.
Location: Journalistic; $3.20, $2.30.
Baeza is on display; $2.60.
The exact number is $6.60.
Triangle: $13-80.
$40.50 is the superfecta.
Although Saratoga Race Course’s conditions were far better than a soggy Churchill Downs, Saturday’s Belmont Stakes nearly replicated this year’s Kentucky Derby.
As in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty had just enough energy to take the lead at the last second, but Journalism broke free at the end of the race and appeared headed for victory. Baeza’s third-place finish on Saturday was identical to his Kentucky Derby finish.
Last month, Sovereignty had the opportunity to create history, but his trainer, Bill Mott, decided to focus on the Belmont Stakes instead of the Preakness Stakes.
That choice may have been a bit unexpected at the time, but it paid off on Saturday.
