Category: Horse Racing

157th Belmont Stakes: Sovereignty captures victory over Journalism at Saratoga

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Sovereignty (2) with jockey Junior Alvarado races to the finish line first ahead of Journalism (7) with Jockey Umberto Rispoli, and Baeza (6) with jockey Flavien Prat at the 157th Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs New York on Sat Jun 7, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The Kentucky Derby champion, Sovereignty, beat the Preakness Stakes winner to claim the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday evening.

Sovereignty won the first and third legs of the Triple Crown, leaving in second place both of those times Journalism, who won the second leg three weeks ago.

After skipping the Preakness Stakes, Sovereignty emerged well rested at the Saratoga Race Course, where the event has been held for the second year in a row.

To start, Bob Baffert-trained Rodriguez took the lead with Crudo close behind around the first two turns. Meanwhile Sovereignty and Journalism, who was the pre-race favorite, battled for third.

Journalism surged forward to lead and seemed to be dashing towards victory, when Sovereignty passed him on the right side and overtook him by about two lengths. Sovereignty charged for the finish line and won. Baeza took third place, and the top three spots were a repeat of the Kentucky Derby in early May.

Jockey Junior Alvarado said that the race was “about two great horses, adding that Journalism “didn’t make it easy for my horse”.

“I just think today, he was great today,” Alvarado said of Sovereignty.

Alvarado admitted that winning the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby was “surreal”, noting that there was a time in his career when he saw the chances for winning just one Triple Crown race seeming to slip.

“I could see everything fading away to be honest, you know, and here I am,” he said.

Sovereignty’s trainer Bill Mott, who faced criticism for withdrawing his horse from the Preakness Stakes and eliminating the possibility of a 2025 Triple Crown winner, said he had no regrets about his decision.

“It turned out good,” said Mott after the race. “If we didn’t win today, we would’ve taken a lot of criticism.”

Sovereignty’s owners took home $1.2 million, Journalism’s $350,000 and Baeza’s $200,000.

While celebrated, Sovereignty’s victory also raises the question of whether he would be the 14th Triple Crown winner in history, if he had been left to run the Preakness Stakes.

Belmont Stakes 2025 final results and odds:

  1. Sovereignty (5-2)
  2. Journalism (2-1)
  3. Baeza (7-2)
  4. Rodriguez (7-1)

150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico: Journalism was the favorite going into Preakness

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Jockey Umberto Rispoli rides Journalism is all fired up as he edges out Jockey Luis Saez riding Gosger in the 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

After taking second place in the Kentucky Derby, Journalism charged to the finish line and won the 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday evening.

Journalism came down the stretch from behind for a thrilling finish over eight other horses in the second leg of the Triple Crown. The three-year-old colt passed Gosger, who finished as the runner-up a half-length behind. Journalism entered with 8-5 odds and won the $2 million race in 1:55:37, while Sandman took third.

It was jockey Umberto Rispoli’s first victory in a Triple Crown race and he became the first from Italy to achieve the feat.

“I couldn’t sleep for four nights after the Derby. But today, I had faith in my horse. I waited 20 years for a moment like this, and it was worth every second,’ said Rispoli. “I wish everybody over there (in Italy) are proud of me.”

Rispoli fully credited Journalism for the victory.

“I still can’t realize what this horse did,” he said. “It’s all about him. It’s a pleasure and privilege to ride a horse like him.”

Journalism delivered the second Preakness win for his trainer, Michael McCarthy, who last won with Rombauer in 2021.

“A lot of bouncing around there. When I saw that, I kind of resigned myself to the fact it was another fantastic effort and maybe come up a little bit short,” said McCarthy. “But it just goes to show the testament that this horse has. Couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Journalism’s co-owner, Aron Wellman, called the horse, Rispoli and McCarthy all champions.

Though Journalism came up short in the Derby, he was still the favorite for the Preakness.

The Derby winner, Sovereignty, did not run in the Preakness after his trainer withdrew him due to the two-week turnaround between the races. It marked the fifth time in seven years that there was no chance for a true Triple Crown winner.

However, there will be a possible rematch between Journalism and Sovereignty in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, which will take place on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

Preakness Stakes 2025 finishing order:

1. Journalism (EVEN) – 1:55.47

2. Gosger (15-1) – ½ lengths behind

3. Sandman (6-1) – 2¾

4. Goal Oriented (8-1) – 6¾

5. Heart of Honor (20-1) – 8¾

6. River Thames (9-1) – 11½

7. Pay Billy (11-1) – 16½

8. American Promise (9-1) – 18¼

Preakness Pimlico Race Course A Big Come Back For Journalism

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Umberto Rispoli jockeys Journalism (2) to victory at the 150th Preakness Stakes Baltimore (AP News photo)

By Michael Villanueva

On May 17, 2025, at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Journalism won the 150th Preakness Stakes in an exciting demonstration of willpower and planning. Journalism, ridden by Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli and trained by Michael McCarthy, overcame early obstacles to secure the victory in the closing stages, completing the 1 3/16-mile race in 1:55.37.

Journalism started the race in the middle of the pack, where he was bumped and pushed by rivals. However, Journalism stormed ahead and defeated longshot Gosger by half a length as Rispoli maneuvered a tiny gap down the barrier. Sandman completed the top three finishers with third place.

This win was an unforgettable turning point for the jockey and the horse. Rispoli became the first jockey born in Italy to win a Triple Crown race, and it was his first victory overall. In addition to his remarkable career achievements, trainer Michael McCarthy celebrated winning his second Preakness title.

Since Sovereignty, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, chose not to enter the Preakness, there was no chance of a Triple Crown winner this year. Journalism, who had placed second in the Derby, took advantage of the situation and became just the fourth Derby runner-up to win the Preakness since 1961.

Given it being the last race carried out at the legendary Pimlico Race Course before the course’s scheduled $400 million renovation, the 2025 Preakness Stakes also had historical significance. The venue’s rich history in horse racing was honored with heartfelt farewells from pros and fans. It is believed that the newly renovated Pimlico Race Course will be finished by 2027, and the Preakness Stakes and other well-known races will return at the restored course.”

151st Kentucky Derby: Sovereignty wins 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs

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Sovereignty ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado crosses the finish line to win the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Sat May 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Sovereignty reigned supreme as the winner of the 151st Kentucky Derby on a muddy and chilly day at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Saturday evening.

The three-year-old colt pulled ahead of Journalism, who was the favorite, in the final stretch of the first leg of the Triple Crown and crossed the finish line in 2:02.31. Journalism started off smoothly but soon fell 10 lengths off the lead, and regained the spot at the head of the pack in the last stretch only to be overtaken by Sovereignty.

Sovereignty, who entered with 7-1 odds, left Journalism in second place, followed by Baeza in third, on the running that had unfavorable conditions with showers all day. It was not raining during the race. Sovereignty netted $17.96 for the victory, $7.50 for place and $5.58 for show.

It was the second victory for trainer Bill Mott, who won in 2019 with Country Horse. The colt came in second but was crowned after Maximum Security was disqualified due to interference.

“This one got there the right way,” Mott said of Sovereignty. “He’s done well; he’s a great horse. He comes from a great organization.”

Mott added that the Derby wins “were both exciting” and “we were thrilled with the last one and this one was equally or more special”.

Jockey Junior Alvarado notched his first win and took home $3.1 million. He and Sovereignty received a standing ovation from spectators in the grandstands.

“It’s more than even a dream come true,” he said. “It means the world to me. My family’s here. I thought I had a great chance. I’m pretty sure they’re way over the moon right now.”

Alvarado praised Sovereignty’s loyalty to him, mentioning that the colt stuck with him even though he was injured for five weeks and could not ride. The injury set Alvarado back three weeks.

Controversial trainer Bob Baffert returned to the Derby after a three-year suspension and had Citizen Bull in the running, but his best chance, Rodriguez, scratched.

The crowd numbered 147,406, which was just short of the record that was set in 2015.

A total of $5 million was shared among the winners.

The next leg of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

Here are the top five finishers of the Kentucky Derby 2025:

1. Sovereignty (7-1)

2. Journalism (3-1)

3. Baeza (13-1)

4. Final Gambit (17-1)

5. Owen Almighty (40-1)

Jessica Kwong is covering the Triple Crown Horse races for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

156th Belmont Stakes: Dornoch gets an upset victory; Beats the 17-1 odds

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Dornoch (6) with jockey Luis Saez crosses the finish line ahead of Mindframe (10) to win the 156th annual Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Springs NY on Sat Jun 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

A World Series champion’s colt, Dornoch, pulled off an upset victory in the 156th Belmont Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course on Saturday evening.

Co-owned by former MLB All-Star Jayson Werth, Dornoch entered the final leg of the Triple Crown with 17-1 odds.

Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey took an early lead over Dornoch and Mindframe, one of the favorites in the race, heading to the backstretch.

Dornoch broke at a good pace from the gate and was head-to-head with Seize the Grey at the end of the backstretch.

But Seize the Grey could not sustain the pace and Dornoch took the lead, with Mindframe and fellow favorite Sierra Leone making charges that fell short.

Dornoch crossed the finish line by a half length ahead of his competitors.

“I never lost faith in him,” said Dornoch’s jockey Luis Saez, who notched his second Belmont Stakes victory after winning with Essential Quality three years ago.

“When I rode this horse last year here in Saratoga for the first time, I told Danny, ‘You have a Derby winner.’ But unfortunately, you know, the Derby is a crazy race and we drew that No. 1 hole. Today we had pretty good confidence that we could win this race. Thank God we got it.”

It was trainer Danny Gargan’s first Belmont Stakes win, as it was for Werth, who is co-owner of West Paces Racing.

Gargan called Dornoch “one of the top three horses in the country”.

“We’ve always thought it,” he said. “Today we let him run his race and he won. If he gets to run, he’s always gonna be tough to beat.”

With the victory, Werth takes home $2 million.

“I would put it right up there with winning on the biggest stage. Horse racing is the most underrated sport in the world, bar none,” said Werth, who won the World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.

“It’s the biggest game: You get the Derby, the Preakness, the Belmont. We just won the Belmont. This is as good as it gets in horse racing. It’s as good as it gets in sports.”

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan posed no threat in the race.

Three different horses won the three races of the Triple Crown this year.

Here is the finishing order for the 156th Belmont Stakes:

1. Dornoch

2. Mindframe

3. Sierra Leone

4. Honor Marie

5. Antiquarian

6. Protective

7. Seize the Grey

8. Mystik Dan

9. The Wine Steward

10. Resilience

Golden Gate Fields is closing for good podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Race track shutting down June 9th

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A look at Golden Gate Fields which opened in 1941 and will close Jun 9, 2024 an East Bay race track and part of the sport’s tradition for decades (file photo San Francisco Chronicle)

On the Golden Gate Fields is closing for good podcast with Augie:

#1 Time has come to it’s end for Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley as the horse track will see it’s last race on June 9th. Attendance has been sparse averaging 2,000 a race at a track that seats over 20,000. What would you say is one of the big reasons for the track’s closing?

#2 The fans who showed up at the track some continued wearing Derby attire where women dressed in summer gowns and fancy hats and the men with their straw hats. That tradition amongst racing fans will be a thing of the past after the 9th of June.

#3 Golden Gate Fields is a part of a long gone history built in 1941 and built at a time when baseball and horse racing were the top sports in America.

#4 The saddest part of the closing of Golden Gate Fields is the employees who will lose their jobs, 500 track workers, jockeys, hotwalkers, exercise riders, grooms, stall muckers, valets, trainer, clerks, security, concession and engineers now all looking for work elsewhere. Some of the track workers might get work someplace like Santa Anita.

#5 Golden Fields was a East Bay institution and now it will be part of history just like the Oakland A’s will be when they leave the East Bay after this season.

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter for 1080 KWAI News Radio Honolulu

Preakness: Seize the Grey beats out Mystic Dan for top prize at Preakness

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Jockey Jaime Torres rides Seize the Grey is thrilled to win the Preakness Stakes ahead of second place finisher Mystic Dan who had won the Kentucky Derby in the previous race. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Seize the Grey held off the Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan to win the 2024 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Sunday.

Mystik Dan and Imagination both had good starts. Mystik Dan made a late push in the quest to win the second Triple Crown but could not overtake Seize the Grey.

Seize the Grey made it a lucky day for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who notched his seventh Preakness win. Lukas now ties Robert Wyndham Walden for second all-time. Lukas, at 88 years old, also became the oldest trainer to win the Triple Crown.

“It never gets old at this level,” said Lukas. “I love the competition. I love to get in here with the rest of them. There were a bunch of good guys in this race. It’s a shame we can’t all win.”

Lukas joked that his Preakness win would prompt some of his colleagues to tell him to quit and consider it a career.

“I think they’re trying to get rid of me,” Lukas said. “I think they want me to retire. That’ll never happen.”

Mystik Dan’s trainer Kenny McPeek was said that his horse couldn’t pull through, but congratulated Lukas.

“Wayne’s a great guy,” said McPeek. “He’s a guy I’ve always idolized. If I’m gonna get beat, it’s fine to get beat by him. In fact, over the years, I’ve been beaten by him plenty of times.”

The top three finishers, with Catching Freedom coming in third, all ran at Churchill Downs a couple weeks ago.

A $2 bet on Seize the Grey paid out $21.60. A $2 exacta bet on Seize the Grey finishing first and Mystik Dan finishing second paid out $119.40. And a $1 trifecta bet with Seize the Grey, Mystik Dan and Catching Freedom paid out $183.70.

Preakness Stakes 2024 finishing order:

1. Seize the Grey

2. Mystik Dan

3. Catching Freedom

4. Tuscan Gold

5. Just Steel

6. Uncle Heavy

7. Imagination

8. Mugatu

Kentucky Derby: Mystik Dan wins in a photo finish by a nose in close 3 horse finale

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Sierra Leone with jockey Tyler Gaffalione (2), Forever Young with jockey Ryusei Sukai, and Mystik Dan with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr at the finish line at Churchill Downs in the 150th Kentucky Derby Race at Louisville Kentucky on Sat May 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby was won by a nose by Mystik Dan in a spectacular photo finish on Saturday evening that was one of the most exhilarating in recent memory. Entering at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan crossed the finish line just before Sierra Leone and Forever Young, who finished third in the Run for the Roses.

Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. dashed along the rail and had a short lead while head-on with Sierra Leone and undefeated Japan-bred Forever Young.

Sierra Leone bumped Forever Young three times during the critical stretch, but jockey Ryusei Sakai did not claim foul. “Around the far turn, my horse was so game being up on the inside,” recounted Hernandez. “I came through a really tight spot and we kind of climbed up on top of the rail a bit. When he shot through that spot and was able to cut the corner and I asked him to go for it, he shot off. I was like, ‘Oh man, we have a shot to win the Kentucky Derby.’”

The crowd of 156,710 at Churchill Downs were held in suspense for afew minutes as stewards reviewed the finish – and finally announced Mystik Dan as the official winner. “This is unbelievable,” said Hernandez while still mounted on Mystik Dan after the thrilling finish. “That was the longest few minutes I’ve ever felt in my life, waiting for them to hang that number up… It’s hard to put into words.”

Mystik Dan ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03:34 and paid $39.22 to win. It was the 26th time in the history of the legendary race that it was decided by the length of a neck or shorter. Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had won the Kentucky Oaks on Fridayalso at Churchill Downs.

They are the second tandem to win both. McPeek commended Hernandez on “an amazing job”. “I mean, just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey in-ride,” said McPeek even before the official decision was declared. “Brian’s amazing. Probably one of the most underrated riders in racing. But not anymore.”

Twenty thoroughbreds competed in the first leg of the Triple Crown, with Sierra Leone and Fierceness considered the early favorites. Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64, while Forever Young paid $5.58 to show. The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 18.

Kentucky Derby 2024 final finishing order:

1. Mystik Dan

2. Sierra Leone

3. Forever Young

4. Catching Freedom

5. T O Password

6. Resilience

7. Stronghold

8. Honor Marie

9. Endlessly

10. Dornoch

11. Track Phantom

12. West Saratoga

13. Domestic Product

14. Epic Ride

15. Fierceness

16. Society Man

17. Just Steel

18. Grand Mo The First

19. Catalytic

20. Just a Touch

Jessica Kwong is covering the Triple Crown for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden Gate Fields podcast with Augie Mesenburg: After extension is this it for Golden Gate Field race track

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Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, right, riding Two Step Cat crosses the finish line to win his 10,000th race at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif., Jan. 1, 2008. Golden Gate Fields announced that it has extended horse racing and instead of closing in October 2023 will close July 2024. (AP file photo)

Horse Racing podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 Augie, how encouraging has it got to be for horse racing fans, employees, and front office staff that Golden Gate Fields in Albany/Berkeley has extended it time instead of closing up shop in October extending it to June?

#2 Augie, I know I asked you off the air but is there anyway you see that Golden Gate Fields can avoid closing it’s doors permanently or is 1st Racing set on closing the long time track down.

#3 Aidan Butler the Chief Executive of Golden Fields said the track will be applying for race track dates for the summer of 2024.

#4 Butler and First Racing said it’s certain that July will be the last month of horse racing at Golden Gate Fields if there is no miracle to save the track.

#5 Augie, you had the chance to work with everyone at the track over the years the jockeys, trainers, owners, fans, front office people and from their perspective how surprising did this news come and how dependent are the employees on working at Golden Gate Fields?

Augie Mesenburg was a former employee at Golden Gate Fields and is a business representative for the Golden Gate union employees

Arcangelo wins Belmont, trainer becomes first female to win third leg of the Triple Crown

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Trainer Jena Antonucci, center, hoists up the August Belmont Trophy alongside jockey Javier Castellano, right, and owner Jon Ebbert, left, after their horse Arcangelo won the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (AP News photo)

History was made at the 155th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, with the first female trainer to win the third leg of the Triple Crown.

National Treasure, whose trainer is the controversial Bob Baffert and won the Preakness Stakes, had an early lead in the race in Elmont, New York. National Treasure held a full length lead at one point, then Arcangelo trained by Jena Antonucci caught up alongside.

Arcangelo, who had 8-1 odds in the race, pulled ahead in the final stretch and comfortably claimed the victory. 

It was the first time that a horse with a woman trainer, Antonucci, 47, has won the race. 

“If you can’t find a seat at the table, make your own table,” she said. 

“Build your team and never give up.”

Antonucci broke through the glass ceiling in a sport dominated by a small number of trainers. 

“I want to thank you everyone for the opportunity. A dream come true,” said Castellano. “My first Belmont Stakes win.”

Arcangelo’s victory added to jockey Javier Castellano’s success. Castellano has won the Preakness Stakes two times and in May won his first Kentucky Derby riding Mage.

“I just believed in my horse, and the horse gives us that confidence,” said Jon Ebbert of Blue Rose Farm, which owns Arcangelo. “It’s a great team. We’re just the best together.”

Forte, who had 2-1 odds entering the race, came in second. Tapit Trice, who had 5-1 odds, finished third.

Baffert’s National Treasure wound up finishing sixth in the field of nine.

The Belmont Stakes is a 1 ½ mile race, which is the longest in the Triple Crown.

Here is the order of finish as well as the payouts for the top three:

1. Arcangelo $17.90, $7.20, $4.90

2. Forte x, $4.30, $3.30

3. Tapit Trice x, x, $4.10