$2 million Belmont Stakes -- at Saratoga -- on tap for Saturday
1 of 2 | Sovereignty, who won the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 3, will try for Belmont Stakes honors Saturday. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo
June 6 (UPI) -- What more could a racing fan ask of a weekend than the Belmont Stakes with the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and on Epsom Downs in England, the original Derby and Oaks?
Well, asking or not, the weekend actually delivers a lot more, including three Breeders' Cup qualifiers at Saratoga, another in Japan and some tough graded stakes in Kentucky and California.
Here's a quick look at what to expect and enjoy:
The Triple Crown
A field of eight, including Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism, is assembled for the third leg of the Triple Crown, Saturday's $2 million Grade 1 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
It's not exactly a rubber match, as Sovereignty did not contest the Preakness after his Derby win. But it's a rematch between the Derby 1-2, and that's good enough.
To hear the connections tell it, both horses are better than ever.
"He's improved, as many of these horses have," said Bill Mott, trainer of Sovereignty, after drawing gate No. 2. "This entire group, if you look at their form and the way they've developed over the course of this year, I think they've made steady progress."
"Obviously, Saratoga is very good for horses, said Journalism's trainer, Michael McCarthy, who drew No. 7. "He seems re-energized up here. I'm looking forward to a wonderful renewal of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday."
Rounding out the field are Baeza, third behind Sovereignty and Journalism in the Derby; Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, who missed the first two legs of the Triple Crown with a foot bruise; Heart of Honor, second in the UAE Derby in Dubai and fifth in the Preakness after acting up in the gate; Peter Pan Stakes winner Hill Road; and the Todd Pletcher-trained duo Crudo and Uncaged.
Classic / Dirt Mile
Saturday's $1 million Grade I Metropolitan Handicap (the Met Mile) at Saratoga, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, marks the first head-to-head meeting between 6-year-old White Abarrio and 4-year-old Fierceness.
It looks like a battle for the division leadership and, despite the designation for the Dirt Mile at Del Mar in November, it also could be a preview of the Breeders' Cup Classic. White Abarrio won that in 2023 and Fierceness was second to Sierra Leone last year.
Sunday's $400,000 Grade III Matt Winn for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs has a field of seven, five of whom were Kentucky Derby starters.
Sunday's $100,000 Affirmed at Santa Anita, also restricted to 3-year-olds, only got four takers, with the indicators pointing firmly toward Santa Anita Derby third Westwood.
Distaff
Friday's $500,000 Grade I Ogden Phipps at Saratoga, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, has a field of seven and at least five would have to be given a good chance of winning.
It would be easy to look no farther than Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer in Friday's $500,000 Grade I DK Acorn for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga. In fact, it's all about Good Cheer.
Cash Call and Thought Process top the morning line for Saturday's $200,000 Grade III Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita. The 1 1/16-mile race drew seven entries.
Sprint
World travelers Book'em Danno and Nakatomi butt heads in a tough version of Saturday's $400,000 Grade III True North at Saratoga. Also in the field is Mullikin, who won last year's Grade I Forego over the Saratoga course.
Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Woody Stephens for 3-year-olds at Saratoga is a bit of catchall for 3-year-olds ducking the Belmont and the Matt Winn.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Ways and Means and Scylla top the morning line for Friday's $300,000 Grade II Bed o' Roses at Saratoga.
Beauty Reigns headlines a field of seven entered for Sunday's $150,000 Jersey Girl for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga.
Turf
Far Bridge and Deterministic are among the favorites in a nine-horse field for Saturday's $1 million Grade I Resorts World Casino Manhattan at Saratoga. Both are now trained by Miguel Clement, taking over from his father, Christophe Clement, who died last month.
Zulu Kingdom, 4-for-5 since arriving in the United States from France, is the morning-line pick among 10 in for Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Pennine Ridge for 3-year-olds at Saratoga.
Only half of the 12 horses entered for Friday's $250,000 Grade II Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga have tried the 2-mile distance before. One of those, Limited Liability, is the morning-line favorite.
Filly & Mare Turf
She Feels Pretty is the favorite in a talented, international field for Friday's $750,000 Grade I New York at Saratoga.
Nitrogen is the even-money favorite in Saturday's $300,000 Grade II Wonder Again for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga.
Turf Mile
In the books: Donegal Momentum went to the front early in Thursday's $300,000 Grade III Poker at Saratoga and the 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt got home first by 1 3/4 lengths. The favorite, Intellect, was second, with Major Dude third.
Eleven fillies and mares are entered for Friday's $500,000 Grade I Just a Game at Saratoga.
Note in the "Around the World" section, Sunday's Yasuda Kinen in Japan is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Turf Sprint
In the books: Jockey Jose Ortiz got Tipsy right the front from the No. 6 gate in Thursday's $200,000 Grade II Intercontinental at Saratoga and never relinquished the lead, winning by 1/2 length over the favorite, Future is Now.
Think Big ranks as morning-line favorite in Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Jaipur at Saratoga, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
Seven-year-old Arrest Me Red is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a field of 10 set for Saturday's $225,000 Mighty Beau at Churchill Downs.
Sunday's $175,000 Grade III Soaring Softly for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga is pretty much a tossup 10 set to go 5 1/2 furlongs.
Juvenile / Juvenile Fillies
Fillies won both 2-year-old features Thursday at Saratoga. Mythical beat the boys in the $150,000 Tremont, leading gate to wire. Sassy C W, the odds-on favorite, won the $150,000 fillies-only Astoria by 3 lengths.
Around the world, around the clock
Japan
A year ago, Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior journeyed to Japan and won the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen, the primary all-aged mile race in the first half of the season.
Soul Rush finished third in that, but returned the favor two months ago when he nipped Romantic Warrior by a nose in the Group 1 Dubai Turf on World Cup night.
Romantic Warrior is back in Hong Kong, hopefully recovering from a minor surgical procedure, leaving Soul Rush as a likely favorite for Sunday's renewal of the Yasuda Kinen, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Mile.
England
The questions: Will Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick make it a four-peat of English Classics after scoring in both the Guineas? Will Coolmore, Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore make a three-peat in the Derby? Or will the unexpected occur?
Desert Flower won the 1,000 Guineas, remaining undefeated after five starts, and Ruling Court took the 2,000 Guineas for Sheik Mohammed's crew, and they're fancied to repeat in Friday's Oak and Saturday's Derby.
Desert Flower faces the O'Brien-trained trio of Minnie Hauk with Moore up, Whirl with Wayne Lordon and Giselle with Colin Keane. Desert Flower returns in the Derby, while O'Brien saddles Delacroix, The Lion in Winter and Lambourn. Moore opts for Delacroix.
Also on Friday's Epsom Downs program is the Group 1 Dahlbury Coronation Cup, with Calandagan representing the late Aga Khan's Studs as the odds-on pick. O'Brien has Jan Brueghel and Continuous in this. Appleby fields Ancient Wisdom.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
an hour ago
- Fast Company
Why the NHL's Stanley Cup is the most authentically human trophy in major sports
The NHL's Stanley Cup is arguably the most iconic championship trophy in sports. Legends like Wayne Gretzky have sipped champagne from it. A Kentucky Derby-winning horse once ate oats out of it. Children have been baptized in it. Just as you can bank on the champions hoisting the Cup each June, you can also bet that some crazy stories will follow. But the Stanley Cup's lore is no accident. It's the result of a masterclass in brand-building by the NHL that turned a $50 silver cup into marketing gold. Here's how they did it. Scarcity: There's only one Stanley Cup Unlike other major sports that create new championship trophies each year, there is only one Stanley Cup. Winners don't get to keep it—they borrow it, adding their names before passing it to the next year's champion. The NHL understands the power of scarcity: When something cannot be possessed permanently, its perceived value increases dramatically. This exclusivity creates a unique reverence for the trophy. The Cup becomes an aspirational symbol rather than an achievement to be stashed in a trophy case. Players won't touch the Cup before winning it, often refusing to even look at it during the playoffs. Such superstitions further mythologize the Cup, creating traditions that sports journalists write about each year, adding to the Cup's lore while generating millions of impressions in free media coverage. Physical permanence in a digital age In an era of fleeting digital experiences, the NHL has leaned into the physical permanence of the Stanley Cup. The Cup carries the engraved names of past champions, creating a physical connection to the sport's history. When a ring on the trophy fills up, the NHL doesn't discard it, rather it preserves it in the Hockey Hall of Fame and adds a new band to the bottom on which to etch the next wave of champions. This engraving practice builds legacy and authenticity that all brands covet. The winning team doesn't just get the same trophy as Gretzky. Each player lifts the exact cup Gretzky held. Their names are etched alongside his, along with the hallowed names of Mark Messier, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Henri Richard, and dozens of other legends immortalized on the Cup. It's a traveling record book. It's the league's ultimate brand symbol and carries the NHL's history everywhere it goes. And go it does—to the farthest flung corners of the earth. The power of storytelling Perhaps the NHL's most genius Stanley Cup marketing move—and the one that lends itself best to the digital age—came in 1995, when it began giving each member of the championship team a personal day with the Cup. This decision created an organic content machine that churns out authentic moments that spread across newspapers, websites, and social platforms without the NHL spending a dime on placement. When Mario Lemieux takes the Cup swimming, Alex Ovechkin snuggles up with it in his bed, or Patrick Maroon's mom chugs beer from the Cup, viral moments are created that connect emotionally with fans in ways traditional marketing simply cannot replicate. While marketing departments globally brainstorm how to create viral campaigns, the Stanley Cup's summer tour provides an incubator in which viral moments inevitably occur. Phil Pritchard, the 'Keeper of the Cup,' travels over 150,000 miles annually shepherding the trophy from beaches to mountaintops with players who win it, fueling a content goldmine that modern brands can only dream about. All publicity is good publicity Over the years, the Cup has traveled the world. It's climbed mountains, been to the Hollywood sign, and visited troops in an Afghan combat zone. But its escapades haven't always been pretty. Remember when Tom Brady got heat for tossing the Lombardi Trophy from one boat to another at the Buccaneers' Super Bowl boat parade in 2021? That's just another day in the life for the Stanley Cup. The Cup has been dropped, dented, lost, and stolen. It's been kicked into a canal and strapped into a roller coaster—and that's just the stuff we know about. In an increasingly damage-control, image-conscious world, most of these mishaps would be PR nightmares for a brand trying to protect the prize that's an enduring symbol of its business. But the NHL leans into these stories, turning misadventures into viral content. Writers recounting tales of the time the Montreal Canadiens left the Cup on the roadside during a tire change in 1924, or when the Cup was stolen from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1970, are traditions as annalized as hoisting the cup itself. And each year brings an opportunity for a new story to add to the Cup's mythology and expand its cultural footprint. The most precious asset: emotional equity The Stanley Cup was first purchased in 1892 by Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley for $50. It stands 35.25 inches tall and weighs roughly 35 pounds—'until you lift it,' the traditional saying goes. 'Then it weighs nothing.' With leaguewide revenue hitting $6.3 billion in last season—an 8.6% increase over the previous year—the NHL is flourishing. The Stanley Cup is the centerpiece, proving that organic storytelling and emotional connection transform ordinary objects into brand powerhouses and that value comes not from an object's monetary worth but from the stories, traditions, and emotional resonance it carries. The Florida Panthers are defending the Cup this week in a rematch of last year's Final against the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers took game one 4-3 in overtime, and nobody yet knows whether they will become the first Canadian squad to claim the Cup since the Canadiens topped the Kings in 1993. But one thing is for sure: whichever team earns the right to hoist the trophy will also add another handful of stories to the Stanley Cup's lore.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
How to bet Saturday's Belmont Stakes
The 157th Belmont Stakes, set for Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, promises an electrifying finale to the Triple Crown season. This year's field features a compelling rematch between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes champion Journalism, both vying for supremacy in the final leg of the three-race series. Adding intrigue is Baeza, the Derby's third-place finisher, who enters the race well rested and seemingly poised for a breakthrough performance. With only eight contenders, two of which are expected to be short-priced entries, you have to be judicious with your wagering dollars. Here are some strategies and factors to consider before heading to the ticket window. After that commendable third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby — closing strong from 15th position — Baeza opted to bypass the Preakness, focusing on targeted training for the Belmont. His Brisnet speed figures have steadily improved from 79 to 88 to 98 to 107; he recorded a 102 over a muddy surface at the Derby. Notably, his 107 figure in the April 5 Grade I Santa Anita Derby was a career-best, indicating his capacity to excel while competing at the highest level. Plus, his recent six-furlong workout at Santa Anita, where he clocked in at a solid 1:12.40, underscores his readiness. Baeza's pedigree is also noteworthy. He is a half brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes champion Dornoch, both offspring of his mare, Puca. If Baeza wins, Puca would become the only dam of three Triple Crown race winners, all in consecutive years. With two committed front-runners in Rodriguez and Crudo, the Belmont could feature a fast early pace that sets up well for horses with strong finishing ability. But that's no guarantee. Typically, I like to see three or more front-runners in a field before I anticipate a pace fast enough to advantage those late-running horses. Since Rodriguez has shown his speed against better competition, I prefer him over Crudo. I would also expect that Baeza, a tactical stalker, would benefit from the anticipated pace. He's fast enough to stay within striking range and often restrained enough to avoid getting caught in a speed duel. If the pace is swift, horses such as Journalism and Uncaged may find themselves pressing too close to the pace, potentially dulling their finishing kick. However, I would be very surprised if the pace is so fast that closers such as Sovereignty and Hill Road are able to take command in the late stages. AccuWeather says there should be three hours of rain on Saturday at Saratoga, with a 26 percent chance of thunderstorms. If the Belmont is run on an off track, focus on horses with tactical speed and the ability to stay close to the pace, as deep closers may struggle with footing and reduced visibility from kickback. In such conditions, Baeza, a stalker, could again gain an advantage by positioning just off the leaders, avoiding the worst of the kickback while conserving energy for a strong finish. Similarly, pressers such as Journalism and Uncaged might benefit from being near the front, especially if the early pace is moderate because of subpar track conditions. Closers such as Sovereignty and Hill Road might find it challenging to make up ground late, as the wet surface can sap the energy needed for a powerful closing run. It's also worth noting that some horses have demonstrated proficiency on off tracks in past performances, such as Uncaged. He's won two races on a muddy track, with one of those victories at Saratoga. He is the only horse in the field with a win at this track, rain or shine. Small fields such as this one, with two short-priced horses, are not often lucrative for bettors, so you have to be judicious with your bankroll. Personally, I would limit a majority of my exotic bets to exactas — bets in which you pick the top two finishers in the correct order — looking to cash in on Rodriguez and Baeza to win and come in second. The same idea holds true for the trifectas and superfectas, although those would demand smaller bets. Here is my strategy. Rodriguez, Baeza, Journalism and Heart of Honor should be fast enough to be competitive, and those are the horses I'll consider in exactas and trifectas. Specifically, I am looking for the following payouts to make a $2 exacta wager. If you don't see payouts in the pool that reach these levels, then don't place the bet(s). Recent experience suggests the exacta pools for using Journalism in the win or place slots will certainly not be high enough to justify the potential return, so they aren't included in the table. For the trifecta, here is how I would structure my tickets. (The 3 horse is Rodriguez, the 6 is Baeza, the 7 is Journalism and the 8 is Heart of Honor.) $1 trifecta using 3 with 6 with 7 and 8 (3/6/7,8) for $2 $1 trifecta using 6 with 3 with 7 and 8 (6/3/7,8) for $2 $1 trifecta using 7 and 8 with 6 with 3 (7,8/6/3) for $2 Our superfecta will use a strategy called the 'double exacta box,' which aims to back up your exacta with a super that adds the next two most likely horses boxed in the three and four slots. If we hit the exacta, we will have set ourselves up for a potential big payoff. $1 super 3 and 6 with 3 and 6 with 7 and 8 with 7 and 8 (3,6/3,6/7,8/7,8) for $4
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
How to watch the 157th Belmont Stakes: Schedule, odds, horses and weather
The third and final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown happens Saturday evening, and this year's 'Run for the Carnations' has a $2 million purse. Saratoga Race Course hosts the 157th Belmont Stakes while its usual home, Belmont Park, undergoes a massive renovation. There is a rejuvenated energy at this new venue, with last year's attendance capped at 50,000. Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby winner, skipped the Preakness but is back for the Belmont Stakes with 2-1 odds. Journalism, the recent Preakness champ, is the clubhouse favorite at 8-5. Advertisement Here is the field, sorted by post position, with jockeys and morning line odds: Post time is set for 7:04 p.m. ET. But FS1's pre-race coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. ET, with several hours of programming on both FS1 and Fox (starting at 2:30 p.m. on Fox) before the main event on FOX at 6:30. The ever-present Curt Menefee anchors the pre-race studio stuff. He's flanked by two fixtures of the sport in trainer Tom Amoss and jockey Richard Migliore. Tom Rinaldi offers his trademark narrative excellence from the racetrack. Maggie Wolfendale is a top-tier analyst from the paddock. Frank Mirahmadi will call the Belmont Stakes and all supporting races on Fox. And apparently, Terry Bradshaw is going to pop in and out of frame. This year, thanks to the changed venue, the race is shorter than its usual 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs) at 1 1/4 miles long, or 10 furlongs. Saratoga Race Course also hosted the Belmont Stakes in 2024. The legendary Secretariat set the race records at Belmont Park (the longer distance) for speed and margin of victory back in 1973. That feat sealed his '73 Triple Crown, too. Secretariat really was the greatest of all time … the GOAT-horse, if your imagination will allow for such a majestic creature. The Belmont Stakes' winningest jockeys are Jim McLaughlin (1882-86) and Eddie Arcaro (1941-55). Each finished in first six times. The winningest trainer here is James G. Rowe Sr., with eight triumphs between 1883 and 1913. Wilder still, he also won the race as a jockey … twice, with two different horses, in 1872 and '73. Dornoch took last year's title, a bay colt co-owned by former MLB All-Star Jayson Werth. The horse clocked in at 2:01.64. Dornoch retired after last year's strong finish, and his jockey, Luis Saez, is racing with Uncaged on Saturday. Advertisement According to The Weather Channel, Saratoga Springs should expect rainfall throughout Friday and into Saturday morning. The forecast calls for some sunshine afterward, and conditions should be clear by post time, with 84-85 percent humidity and 6-7 mph winds from the northwest. The winning owner gets a Tiffany & Co. silver trophy. The winning horse gets a blanket of white carnations. It doesn't seem like proportional compensation, but so it goes. A bunch of New York-centric songs have been used for the winner's trot, from Charles B. Lawlor's 'The Sidewalks of New York' to Jay Z and Alicia Keys' 'Empire State of Mind,' but the enduring anthem is 'New York, New York' by Frank Sinatra. The official cocktail was the questionable Belmont Breeze — whiskey, sherry, juices, sodas and a splash of cream. Now it is the Belmont Jewel, a simpler mix of bourbon, lemonade and pomegranate juice over ice. Morning line refers to the first slate of odds, based on the initial poll position. Horse racing has parimutuel betting, meaning that any odds fluctuation applies to all bettors until the final odds are settled. For most sports, a 10-1 ticket will pay out at 10-1, even if the pregame odds shift down to 2-1. But for horse racing, that 10-1 ticket will pay out at 2-1. There's no extra credit for getting the pick before it was popular. Bettors can try to predict the race's winner outright, but there are a variety of other ways to get action on a racer: What would a 2025 Belmont Stakes win mean for Journalism's legacy? 2025 Belmont Stakes power rankings: How Journalism, Sovereignty and the field stack up Steve Cady on June 10, 1973: ''Three…two…one—ignition!' 'It was racing's version of a moon shot, and the crowd of nearly 70,000 at Belmont Park never stopped yelling yesterday as Secretariat roared off the launching pad and streaked to the first Triple Crown in 25 years. Any other horse who set the kind of pace he set in the 1½‐mile Belmont Stakes would have come home in a horse ambulance. Secretariat came to the wire in glory, a 31‐length winner of the fastest dirt‐course mile and a half ever run in America. ''I just let him run his own way,' said an obviously relieved Ron Turcotte after riding the Meadow Stable colt down geranium‐lined Victory Lane to collect the blanket of white carnations. 'All of us had a lot of pressure, but I guess I carried the last couple of minutes of it.'' Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, winning the Kentucky Derby in May: Grace Bradley / Getty Images)
