Derby Winner Sovereignty Stamps His Authority On the Belmont

[Wandering Eyes]

When the regally bred and named SOVEREIGNTY (c, 3, Into Mischief–Crowned, by Bernardini) won the GI Kentucky Derby some 35 days ago, he was one of the great overlays of recent memory off his previous body of work and returned nearly $18 to his backers. Despite defeating favored Journalism (Curlin) on the square on that occasion, the gamblers still went for the Southern California-based galloper in Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes off his rough-and-tumble victory in the GI Preakness Stakes three weeks back, sending him off as the 2-1 favorite with Sovereignty arguably over the odds yet again at 2 1/2 to 1. As he did at Churchill Downs on that first Saturday in May, Sovereignty was the recipient of another brilliant steer from Junior Alvarado and put an exclamation point on the 2025 Classics with an emphatic victory at historic Saratoga Race Course.

As expected, 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) showed early interest as did recent Sir Barton Stakes winner Crudo (Justify) and they disputed things early as Journalism was ridden forward as well by Umberto Rispoli. Sovereignty was under a good hold from Alvarado, but running along very smoothly and the colt progressed to be on the back of Rodriguez down the back. Journalism was forced to do it toughest, three or four wide and facing the breeze, but nevertheless put the top two to the sword nearing the stretch, attempting to win the Belmont right there and then. But Sovereignty had expended less energy while covered up inside to the quarter pole, and the battle was joined in earnest three-sixteenths from home. Try as he might, Journalism had no response when tackled by the Godolphin runner inside the final furlong, and Sovereignty got a few pats down the neck in celebration from Alvarado when the race was in safe keeping. Baeza (McKinzie) made hard work of things, but finished with some interest to be third, reprising the Kentucky Derby trifecta. The final time over a track that began the day as an absolute quagmire, but ended up fast, was 2:00.69.

Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-0. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Bill Mott.

 

It's Sovereignty!!

The Kentucky Derby winner takes the Belmont Stakes! pic.twitter.com/IvvQ3Lhl2F

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 7, 2025

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