Sovereignty Wins The Belmont Stakes, Journalism Second In Rematch

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty won the 157th Belmont Stakes under jockey Junior Alvarado on Saturday, June 7, in Saratoga, New York, passing rival Journalism down the stretch for the victory. 

Just as in the Kentucky Derby, Journalism, favored in both races, finished second to Sovereignty in the Belmont. Also, as in the Derby, Baeza finished third in the Belmont. 

The Belmont is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. It comes after the first leg, the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, and then the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. The Belmont was run at the historic track at Saratoga on dirt over 1 ¼ miles instead of 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park, while that track just east of New York City is upgrading. 

In May, Sovereignty surged past favored Journalism to win the Derby but was kept out of the Preakness two weeks later. Journalism won the Preakness, setting up a much anticipated showdown in early June at the Belmont between the Derby and Preakness winners.

Sovereignty being held out of the Preakness meant no Triple Crown winner this year, sparking a debate regarding the Triple Crown schedule. Some would like to see the race dates spread out more to give the horses time to recover. Others favor maintaining the current five-week span from the Kentucky Derby in early May to the Belmont in early June, saying that schedule is a test of greatness.

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 was 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.