The sun rises over training horses at the Saratoga Race Track, before running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Seth Wenig - AP
Jockey Junior Alvarado reacts aboard Sovereignty (2), after crossing the finish line to win the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Jessica Hill - FR125654 AP
Jockey Junior Alvarado reacts aboard Sovereignty (2), as he crosses the finish line ahead of Journalism (7), with jockey Umberto Rispoli up, to win the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Jessica Hill - FR125654 AP
Jockey Junior Alvarado reacts aboard Sovereignty (2), as he crosses the finish line to win the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Sovereignty bested Journalism on Saturday in a rematch to win the 157th Belmont Stakes, the second hosted at Saratoga.
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 5-2 second favorite won in 2 minutes, 0.69 seconds, beating by three lengths.
Journalism ended up in second again and Baeza was third — the same 1-2-3 as the Kentucky Derby.
Journalism entered the gate at the Belmont as the 2-1 favorite, with Baeza the third favorite at 7-2.
Sovereignty led off the first leg of the Triple Crown by winning the Derby in early May. The Bill Mott-trained colt also edged Journalism in that race.
After the Derby win, the Godolphin-owned 3-year-old to focus on the Belmont, forfeiting a shot at history to win the Triple Crown. 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.
AP horse racing:
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Sovereignty has crossed the finish line first at the Belmont Stakes.
The sun rises over training horses at the Saratoga Race Track, before running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Jockey Junior Alvarado reacts aboard Sovereignty (2), after crossing the finish line to win the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Jockey Junior Alvarado reacts aboard Sovereignty (2), as he crosses the finish line ahead of Journalism (7), with jockey Umberto Rispoli up, to win the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Jockey Junior Alvarado reacts aboard Sovereignty (2), as he crosses the finish line to win the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
