Belmont Field Shaping Up, Decision Coming Soon On Journalism
The Belmont Stakes is shaping up to be an intriguing final 2025 Triple Crown race with a competitive field, possibly including a rematch between Kentucky Derby Winner Sovereignty and Journalism, the Derby runner-up and Preakness Stakes winner.
The Belmont, set for June 7, is the third leg of the Triple Crown, following the first leg, the Kentucky Derby, and then the second, the Preakness.
Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, co-owners of Journalism, told Gambling.com on Friday, May 30, that a final decision on whether Journalism will run in the Belmont is coming soon.
“We will decide on Sunday,” Wellman said.
During a recent video interview on Gambling.com’s “The Edge,” Wellman said he leans toward preserving the current Triple Crown schedule that includes three major races in a five-week period. Some people have said the races should be spaced further apart to give horses more time to recover.
“It takes an all-time great to do it,” Wellman said of the current five-week format.
After winning the Derby, Sovereignty sat out the Preakness, meaning there would not be a Triple Crown winner this year. The last Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018. Sovereignty's team has said the thoroughbred will compete in the Belmont.
WATCH: Aron Wellman On Preserving Triple Crown Tradition
Belmont Possible Contenders
With a week to go before the June 7 race, here is the potential field for the Belmont, according to the Courier-Journal.
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|
| Baeza | John Shirreffs | Flavien Prat |
| Grande | Todd Pletcher | Dylan Davis |
| Heart of Honor | Jamie Osborne | Saffie Osborne |
| Hill Road | Chad Brown | TBA |
| Journalism | Michael McCarthy | Umberto Rispoli |
| Rodriguez | Bob Baffert | Mike Smith |
| Sovereignty | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado |
2025 Triple Crown Schedule
- The Kentucky Derby: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, May 3
- The Preakness Stakes: Pimlico, Baltimore, Maryland, May 17
- The Belmont Stakes: Saratoga*, New York, June 7
*Note: This race is being held in Saratoga as work continues on a $550 million upgrade at Belmont Park in Elmont on Long Island, just east of New York City. At Saratoga, the race is being run over 1 ¼ miles instead of 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park.
Get more information on Belmont Stakes betting from Gambling.com.
