Sovereignty, Journalism give Belmont Stakes a rematch from Kentucky Derby
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The intent was to focus on the Belmont rather than chase the chance for Sovereignty to become the sport's 14th Triple Crown champion and first since Justify in 2018.
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'We felt that the best thing for him and to have a career through the whole season, and maybe into next year as well, was spacing his races a little bit,' Banahan said. 'Bill Mott, who's trained horses for us for a long time, is very judicious about where he wants to place his horses. And we put a lot of faith in the recommendations that he would give us.'
Michael McCarthy-trained Journalism is the only horse running in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year. And he is the favorite for a reason.
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'Journalism is a very tough horse,' said John Shirreffs, who trains Baeza. 'One thing about Journalism, [if] he runs his race [like in] Kentucky, Pimlico, he's very tough. He's solid. So, it's going to be a very difficult horse to beat.'
Shirrefs said Baeza is emerging and developing, hoping the half-brother of
'Hopefully we get out of the gate well and get a nice pace,' Shirrefs said. 'It's just the how the race unfolds and him not getting into any trouble.'
Long shot Heart of Honor is running again after finishing fifth in the Preakness three weeks ago. New to the Triple Crown trail are Hill Road, Uncaged, Crudo, and Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby with a minor foot bruise that also caused him to miss the Preakness.
Banahan expects Rodriguez to go to the lead, as so many of Hall of Fame and two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert's top horses do, and provide the main speed.
'That horse is going to be ready,' Chad Brown, trainer of Hill Road, said of Rodriguez. 'You can be assured of that. And it sure looks like he's by far the fastest horse in the race.'
Brown has won the Preakness twice but never the Belmont. After going to Saratoga with his parents while growing up and getting into horse racing as a result, he's hoping to end his drought at his home track.
'We have a very unique time in history where there'll be three Belmont Stakes run total at Saratoga before you'll never see another one again,' Brown said. 'So, to be part of history with that, that would be extra special.'
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who slept best last night: Nico Rosberg
When the most insightful Formula 1 reporter in Spa is a former racing driver, it says a lot about the current state of an entire profession – or rather, how dire things have become in terms of critical journalism. Especially in a paddock increasingly flooded by a phenomenon called 'influencer'. And let's be honest – if something sounds like a disease, it could certainly act like one. Still, it's merely a symptom of a broader zeitgeist that, in 2025, doesn't stop at the gates of the F1 paddock. People who are enthusiastic about everything – as long as they're allowed inside – are far easier to manage. They're more compliant when PR handlers want to dictate not just headlines but entire stories. They don't push back when teams deny access to press briefings or even resort to legal action against unwelcome reporting. And yet, there seems to remain one small, defiant village in this largely occupied F1 empire – a flicker of hope. Fittingly, the figure who embodies that resistance sports a hairstyle reminiscent of Cacofonix, the long-haired bard from Asterix, who routinely gets gagged so no one has to listen to him. A sentiment that many of the once-proud voices of critical F1 journalism can relate to. It's telling that, in their place, it's now Nico Rosberg – in his role as TV pundit – who dares to ask the uncomfortable questions. It helps, of course, that Rosberg quite simply doesn't give a damn – which may be why more than one paddock personality in Spa probably wished they had a gag to hand. Exhibit A: Jos Verstappen. On the starting grid with Sky Sports F1 on his UK broadcasting duties, Rosberg confronts him directly over his past criticism of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner: 'Last year, you said Horner had to go because he was destroying the team,' Rosberg begins. Lando Norris, McLaren, 3rd position, is interviewed by Nico Rosberg, Sky Sports F1, after the Sprint race Verstappen shrugs, interrupting him: 'That was a year and a half ago. So, it's different,' he says, adding, 'I've got nothing to say. It's fine.' Rosberg presses on: 'Now you're quiet?' Verstappen leans forward, confused. Rosberg repeats: 'You're quiet now?' 'I'm always quiet,' Verstappen snaps back – clearly irritated. The awkward exchange is just the opening act. Rosberg continues firing off uncomfortable questions left and right. His next target: his own Mercedes successor, Valtteri Bottas. 'New deal with Cadillac?' he asks bluntly. Bottas plays deaf: 'I can't hear you.' Rosberg insists: 'So just rumours, yeah?' Bottas, again evasive: 'There are a lot of rumours in this sport.' Even current drivers like Lando Norris and Andrea Kimi Antonelli don't escape unscathed. More and more, Rosberg has become the kind of pundit he himself – back in his racing days – would probably have hated: brutally honest, relentlessly persistent, unafraid of confrontation. He puts his finger on every wound with the precision of someone who knows exactly what he's talking about – because he's been there. Norris, who had another error-strewn afternoon, becomes the subject of Rosberg's post-race critique: 'He was half asleep when the race restarted,' Rosberg says, dissecting the Brit's performance. 'And later on, he made three more mistakes – the kind of errors a Hamilton or Verstappen simply wouldn't make.' All this while McLaren boss Zak Brown is standing right next to him. Rosberg, undeterred, turns to him cheekily: 'You saw that too, didn't you?' Read Also: Who slept worst last night: Toto Wolff Rosberg doesn't hold back with his former team Mercedes either – nor with rookie Antonelli, even though the young Italian once drove for Rosberg's own karting team and received financial support from him. Rosberg's verdict is blunt: Antonelli has 'definitely allowed himself a few too many distractions this year.' His evidence? In Imola, for instance, the teenager welcomed a visit from the local football club – and even some of his schoolmates. 'You have to cut all of that out – completely. Zero. Take it all down to zero,' Rosberg demands. 'It's just you and your team. Go race. That's it.' And Rosberg speaks from experience: in 2016, that same monk-like detachment and ruthless focus on the essentials gave him the final push he needed to clinch the world title. Nico Rosberg, Sky F1, on the grid 'No friends, no family – leave them all at home. Leave behind anything that distracts you. Prepare with the team, get in the simulator, double your sim time at the factory. Just preparation, preparation, preparation. That's the best thing he can do,' Rosberg insists. Whether this kind of stern, old-school advice – and the sharp tone he often takes – wins him many friends is doubtful. But frankly, Rosberg doesn't seem to care. A perfect example? His former team boss, Toto Wolff. Even when it comes to the Austrian and his ongoing contract talks with George Russell, Rosberg can't resist letting us in on a little secret. 'It's horrible negotiating with Toto – because his tactic is to just disappear,' laughs the former Mercedes driver. 'So if you're George now trying to get hold of him, Toto's already gone. He even knows how to avoid the blue ticks.' Apparently, no special WhatsApp settings required for the Silver Arrows' team boss. With a grin, Rosberg adds: 'As soon as your message pops up on his screen, he'll only read the first few words and won't even open it properly. I remember that well from my time – it was always his style: vanish, don't reply, be unreachable. And that's horrible, because it gives you no chance.' Rosberg certainly knows how to offer compelling insights from behind the curtain – into the inner workings of an F1 team. What helps, of course, is that he's still deeply connected in the paddock and that his own driving days weren't all that long ago. He raced against many of today's stars – and clearly still knows exactly how the game is played. But perhaps even more important than Rosberg's technical expertise is his integrity – his clarity of opinion, his directness, and his ability to speak his mind without, unlike some of his fellow pundits, constantly putting himself in the spotlight. Martin Brundle, Nico Rosberg and Simon Lazenby His deliberate refusal to play along with the increasingly sanitised rules of F1's tightly-managed media circus is refreshing. Rosberg is finally asking the uncomfortable questions. That said, it's only fair to acknowledge that Rosberg's status as a world champion certainly helps. It elevates him beyond doubt, giving his voice an authority in almost any discussion. There was, however, one moment in recent years when Rosberg himself clashed with F1's many unwritten rules – quite literally finding himself excluded: during the COVID years, when strict F1 protocols suddenly barred the former world champion from the paddock. He was forced to dial in remotely, standing outside the gates with a small TV crew like an outcast on the fringes of the great circus. Sky stuck with their most valued expert – and rightly so. Rosberg's multilingualism allows him to switch effortlessly between international broadcasts, making him even more valuable to the network. Still, Rosberg's rise in the world of television hasn't come without its cost. This writer experienced this firsthand at last year's season finale in Abu Dhabi. After an enjoyable private chat with him and Augusto Farfus – whom I know well from DTM – I asked Nico if I could record a few quotes from him. He politely but firmly declined: 'I don't do print anymore.' The message was clear: he was done with the written press. It was a surprising development, but in hindsight, so be it. If journalism truly is in decline in this age of TikTok, AI, and clickbait – then so be it. Long live Rosberg on TV. As long as he keeps delivering like he did on Sunday in Spa, we will all be better for it. Photos from Belgian GP - Race Jacky Ickx, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images Rain in the pitlane Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Eliska Babickova, girlfriend of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Kym Illman / Getty Images Jenson Button Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Ryan Pierse / Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Ferrari Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Peter Fox / Getty Images A fan wears a headband made of LEGO F1 cars Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images Toto Wolff, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Kym Illman / Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Pierre Gasly, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Toto Wolff, Mercedes Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Jonas Roosens / Belga Mag / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, Williams Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Peter Fox / Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams Peter Fox / Getty Images View of the fanzone Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Jayce Illman / Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber Peter Fox / Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team, Alexander Albon, Williams Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Ferrari Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Peter Fox / Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Lando Norris, McLaren Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Ferrari Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Peter Fox / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Yves Herman / Pool / AFP via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Ryan Pierse / Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Mark Thompson - Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Getty Images To read more articles visit our website.
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Mets' offensive statement leads comeback to sweep Giants for seventh straight win
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free SAN FRANCISCO — In a flash, the Mets showed the offensive firepower Sunday that gives them a chance for excellence. Between a talented rookie hitting a ball into McCovey Cove behind Oracle Park and the highest-paid player in major league history launching a go-ahead blast later in that seventh inning, the Mets were quite the show — and more importantly toward their mission, they were quite successful. Advertisement That power display by Ronny Mauricio and Juan Soto led a 5-3 comeback victory over the Giants to complete the series sweep. The Mets extended their winning streak to seven games, matching a season high, and moved 1 ½ games ahead of the Phillies for first place in the NL East. It was the latest positive sign the Mets have seen from the 24-year-old Mauricio in his comeback from a lost season due to multiple knee surgeries and a needed contribution from Soto, who had tiptoed quietly over the past week. Mauricio finished 4-for-4 with two RBIs — his first career four-hit game — to lead a 12-hit Mets attack. 5 Mets' Juan Soto, right, celebrates in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey, left, after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 27, 2025. AP Advertisement 5 Ronny Mauricio #10 of the New York Mets hits an RBI double scoring Francisco Alvarez #4 against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fifth inning at Oracle Park on July 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Kodai Senga, in his third start off the injured list, extended to 92 pitches, which took him through five innings. The right-hander allowed three earned runs on four hits and five walks with three strikeouts as his ERA increased to 2.00. Francisco Lindor's RBI groundout in the third gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Francisco Alvarez and Mauricio singled in succession to begin the rally, but after Lindor brought in the first run with one out, Soto struck out to end the inning. Advertisement Matt Chapman's homer leading off the bottom of the fourth tied it 1-1. Senga fell behind 2-0 in the count before throwing a cutter that Chapman launched over the fence in left-center. Alvarez and Mauricio delivered consecutive doubles leading off the fifth that gave the Mets a 2-1 lead. Joey Lucchesi entered and got the final three outs without Mauricio scoring. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS Advertisement Chapman's second homer of the game, a two-run blast in the fifth, put the Mets in a 3-2 hole. Willy Adames stroked a two-out single before Chapman smashed a first-pitch fastball for the seventh homer allowed by Senga this season and third in his past two starts. 5 New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez celebrates after hitting a double against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 27, 2025. AP Jeff McNeil doubled in the sixth and Brett Baty drew a two-out walk, but Alvarez struck out to end the threat. Mauricio's splash hit — a shot into the San Francisco Bay beyond the right field wall to lead off the seventh — tied it 3-3. Soto unloaded with two outs, clearing the left field fence for his 25th homer of the season, putting the Mets ahead 4-3. Reed Garrett allowed a leadoff single to Adames in the eighth before getting two outs. Brooks Raley entered to face pinch hitter Wilmer Flores, whose infield single put the go-ahead run on base before Patrick Bailey was retired to end the threat. 5 Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on July 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images 5 Edwin Díaz throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 27, 2025. AP Delivering insights on all things Amazin's Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Advertisement Mauricio's fourth hit, a double leading off the ninth, led to the fifth run for the Mets, delivered by Brandon Nimmo's single. Edwin Díaz loaded the bases in the ninth before striking out Adames and Chapman to end the game. Díaz's final pitch was a 98 mph fastball that Chapman swung at and missed. The All-Star closer had walked two in the inning and hit a batter to give the Giants life with one out before recording his 23rd save in 25 chances.
New York Post
8 hours ago
- New York Post
CC Sabathia's Hall of Fame induction reminder of enduring impact on Yankees culture
COOPERSTOWN — When Brian Cashman recruited CC Sabathia to play in New York prior to the 2009 season, he knew it would take more than just the promise of trying to win and a giant contract. 'I told him and Amber [Sabathia's wife] we would make them comfortable in New York,'' Cashman said Sunday, just prior to Sabathia's induction speech. 'I looked him in the eye — and threw a ton of money at him — but I knew he wasn't sure about playing in New York. I think we both fulfilled our promise. He became a Hall of Fame pitcher and he and his family were just fine in New York. We both fulfilled our promise.' If Sabathia's speech Sunday was any indication, Cashman's approach was the right one, since the big lefty spent nearly his entire 12-minute speech thanking the women in his life, from his wife to his mother Margie, both of whom were in attendance, to his grandmother and many aunts. While Sabathia noted that he'd shown his appreciation for his father Corky, who died early in Sabathia's career, he went out of his way to tell stories about people he believed may have been overshadowed. 6 CC Sabathia looking at his Hall of Fame Plaque during the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, New York on July 27. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post From throwing grapefruits in his grandmother's backyard as a youngster, which is where Sabathia said he first 'realized I could throw hard,' Sabathia consistently brought up 'the village of women who raised me … and a few times literally saved me.' It was his mother, Sabathia said, who taught him to become a fan of the game and brought the native of Vallejo, Calif., to A's games at the Oakland Coliseum, where Sabathia watched the 1989 World Series-winning team that included fellow Hall of Fame inductee Dave Parker, who died just a month before the ceremony. His father helped teach Sabathia the game, but Margie was a significant part of his growth, as well. 'My mom loved the game, too,'' Sabathia said. 'She'd put the catching gear on and catch me in the backyard. My mom is the reason I'm a baseball fan. And fans turn into players who sometimes turn into Hall of Famers.' 6 CC Sabathia speaking during the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post 6 CC Sabathia's plaque that will hang in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Sabathia's path to Cooperstown began in Cleveland, where he spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career after being a first-round pick of the organization in 1998. And he solidified his status as an ace in 2008, after being traded to Milwaukee, where he consistently pitched on short rest to lead the Brewers to the postseason — even with free agency approaching. But it was in The Bronx where Sabathia cemented his Hall of Fame credentials, pitching the final 11 seasons of his career and leading the Yankees to the 2009 World Series title. 6 CC Sabathia posing for a photo after the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post 'We had a very high assessment of him as a pitcher and that was obviously met, even before he was a Hall of Famer,'' Cashman said. Cashman credited Sabathia for changing the culture of the team at the time. 'I thought we had, in some ways, a broken clubhouse, and he had a reputation as a connector,'' Cashman said. 'He made a fantastic impact.' That impact continues today, with his former teammates still citing Sabathia as an example for how they play. 6 Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia throws a pitch during a game against the Rangers on Oct. 20, 2010. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post 6 CC Sabathia reacts after getting out of trouble in the 6th inning in an ALCS game against the Rangers in 2010. Neil Miller Prior to his IL stint, Aaron Judge said Sabathia's performance in 2019, when he pitched out of the bullpen in the postseason until his shoulder gave out, is a reason why he puts his body at risk in the outfield. 'Watching him go out there hurt and then basically throw until his arm came off, you can't help but be motivated by that,'' Judge said of Sabathia, who entered Game 4 of the ALCS against the Astros while pitching with left shoulder soreness and walked off the mound with a subluxation of his left shoulder. 'That last run was a great example,'' Judge said. 'He threw literally until he couldn't throw anymore. I'll never forget that. We didn't finish it that year, but he knew if we were gonna get there, it was gonna take all of your body and soul.' And on Sunday, it landed Sabathia in the Hall of Fame.
