Sovereignty and Journalism Ready for 157th Belmont Stakes Showdown, Third Jewel of Triple Crown

By Randy Brungard

On Saturday at 7:04 p.m., Fox Sports will air the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes, the 3rd leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown.  Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty and Preakness winner, Journalism, along with six other 3 year old Thoroughbreds, will once again square off in this two million Dollar Classic.

Sovereignty (#2) beat Journalism (#6), who was the favorite, by 1 1/2 lengths in the Derby, but then chose to skip the Preakness. Journalism then won the Preakness despite having a horrible trip, getting banged around while trying to fit through a narrow gap between two horses at the top of the home stretch. The replay of that near disaster is well worth a 2nd and 3rd look.

Baeza, who finished 3rd by only a nose to Journalism in the Derby, is clearly another horse to focus on in this talented field. Both Baeza and Sovereignty will likely be near the back of this 8 horse field until entering the far turn of Saratoga’s race track. Since Belmont Park is under construction, this will be the second year that the race will be held in upstate New York, and run at 1 1/4 miles instead of the traditional 1 1/2 mile distance. Belmont Park is the normal track where this race is held, and is 1 1/2 miles in circumference.

Due to the length of the Saratoga track ( 1 1/8th of a mile ) compared to the extra 1/8 race distance (1 1/4 miles ), the starting gate will be 1/8th of a mile before the finish line. At that early stage in the race, Rodriguez, from post position #3, will likely be dueling with long shot, Crudo, from post #5, for the lead. If Rodriguez gets an uncontested lead, he could be hard to catch. 

Other entries include Hill Road from post #1, who won the Peter Pan Stakes in his most recent start. Uncaged, breaking from post #4, finished 6th in the Peter Pan, and it would be shocking if he won this race. 

Heart of Honor, another closer, finished 5th in the Preakness after being far back with less than a 1/4 mile to the finish line. He will enter the outside, #8, starting gate.

“And Down the Stretch They Come”!!!