In a remarkable comeback eerily similar to his Kentucky Derby victory, Sovereignty overtook Journalism to win the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes on Sunday in Saratoga.
The 5-2 second favorite won in 2 minutes, 0.69 seconds, beating Preakness Stakes winner Journalism by three lengths.
Like last year, it featured the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners. However, unlike last year and for the first time since 2018, one of those two won to secure two of the three legs of the Triple Crown.
Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado traversed the field of eight on a fast Saratoga track after downpours throughout the morning and early afternoon dried up before post time.
The three-year-old was racing for the first time since that historic first Saturday in May. Owners and trainer Bill Mott decided not to enter Sovereignty in the Preakness because of the short, two-week turnaround, thereby denying themselves the chance at a Triple Crown.
The winners take the $1.2 million prize followed by Journalism’s ownership group at $360,000. Third-place Baeza’s team and four-place Rodriguez’s owners take home $200,000 and $100,000, respectively.
Jockey Junior Alvarado reacts aboard Sovereignty (2), as he crosses the finish line for the win
Jockey Junior Alvarado, center, holds up the August Belmont trophy as trainer Bill Mott, second from right, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul look on after Alvarado’s victory
Julie Wood of Texas poses for a portrait during the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes
For Alvarado, the victory comes after he incurred a $62,000 fine for whipping Sovereignty too many times en route to the Kentucky Derby victory.
There is a six-strike limit applied to the race – a number already seen as excessive by racing critics – and Alvarado was ultimately suspended for a pair of races in Kentucky last month as a result.
The Triple Crown hasn’t been won since 2018, when Bob Baffert’s Justify won the 105th Belmont Stakes to secure the third jewel.
Journalism was the only horse to run in all three legs, winning the Preakness.
‘I think they are three really good horses,’ Sovereignty trainer Bill Mott said. ‘I’m glad (Sovereignty) was able to come back and have a race like he did in the Derby.’
It was the second Belmont win for Mott. He spends most of his summer tending to his horses at Saratoga, so winning the Belmont at Saratoga was extra special.
‘This is home,’ Mott said. ‘It´s the race we were pointing for after the Derby, and fortunately it worked out very well… The horse was good. Junior rode him well.’
It was the second Belmont at Saratoga, with renovations being made to its usual home at Belmont Park on Long Island.
