Kentucky Derby-winner Sovereignty and Preakness-victor Journalism meet again in G1 Belmont Stakes

Sovereignty, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner, takes on Grade 1 Preakness-victor and Derby runner-up Journalism, among the field of eight sophomores in Saturday’s 157th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets is slated as Race 13 on the 14-race card with a post time of 7:04 p.m. First post is 10:45 a.m.

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Sovereignty [post 2, Junior Alvarado, 2-1 ML] closed to win the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs by 1 1/2 lengths over Journalism. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Into Mischief bay clipped heels with a rival and traveled in 16th-of-19 early under Junior Alvarado, but steadily made up ground behind the 22.81 seconds, 46.23 and 1:10.78 fractions over the sloppy and sealed going.

Journalism advanced to vie for command turning for home in the 1 1/4-mile test and Sovereignty followed his move, ranging up outside the new leader in the lane, with the pair dueling under the Twin Spires into the final sixteenth.

Sovereignty passed the favored Journalism in deep stretch and carried the signature Godolphin blue silks across the line 1 1/2 lengths in front for the organization’s first Derby score. The final time of 2:02.31 registered a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He’s been good since the race,” said Mott, who saddled Drosselmeyer to win the 2010 Belmont. “He’s just made good, steady progress. He’s remained good. He’s been training well, eating well, and he feels good. So, we are pleased. He has maintained his physical wellbeing quite well since the Derby.”

Journalism [post 7, Umberto Rispoli, 8-5 ML] ran back two weeks after the Derby and won the Grade 1 Preakness by a half-length over Gosger. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the Curlin bay was in tight in the upper stretch of Pimlico Race Course, but muscled through rivals nearing the three-sixteenths under Umberto Rispoli en route to a resilient victory.

“The Preakness victory speaks for itself,” said McCarthy, who seeks his first Belmont triumph and saddled Rombauer to a third place finish in 2021 after winning the Preakness. “The horse and rider were obviously very brave. He seems like he bounced out of it well and is enjoying himself up here.”