Tag: Horseracing

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)

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

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