Journalism opens as the Belmont favorite. Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty is the 2nd choice
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness winner Journalism opened as the 8-5 favorite in the Belmont Stakes when post positions were drawn Monday for the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Derby winner Sovereignty
was set as the second choice on the morning line at odds of 2-1 and drew the No. 2 post. Journalism, near the outside with the No. 7 post, is the only horse running in all three Triple Crown races.
'He's been kind of the same horse since July of last summer,' trainer Michael McCarthy said. 'He does everything you'd ask a good horse to do: He eats well, trains well, acts well. I thought through the last six, seven weeks here, his energy's been the same throughout.'
Sovereignty is back after owners and trainer Bill Mott
opted to skip the Preakness
and run the Belmont on five weeks of rest, and things have gone swimmingly since he arrived at historic Saratoga Race Couse.
'We've been very lucky with everything that's gone on sine he's been here,' Mott said. 'He's been moving well over the track.'
Sovereignty and Journalism in the field set up this Belmont, the second at Saratoga while
renovations are made
to its usual home on Long Island, to be a rematch between the first two Triple Crown winners who were also first and second the Derby.
'He's improved, as I think as many of these horses have,' Mott said of Sovereignty. 'I think 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 and it should be an interesting race.'
No. 6 Baeza, who finished third in Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, opened at 4-1. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's Rodriguez, who was
scratched from the Derby
because of a minor foot bruise and held out of the Preakness, was next at 6-1 and will leave the starting gate from the No. 3 post.
The field of eight horses also includes No. 8 Heart of Honor, tied for the longest shot on the board at 30-1 after finishing fifth in the Preakness. New to the Triple Crown trail are No. 1 Hill Road (10-1), No. 5 Crudo (15-1) and No. 4 Uncaged (30-1).
Journalism, who was favorited in the Derby and the Preakness and at the moment is the top 3-year-old in the country, looks like the horse to beat.
'Saratoga is very good for horses,' McCarthy said. 'He seems a little bit re-energized up here. We're looking for a wonderful renewal of the Belmont here on Saturday.'
___
AP horse racing:
https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
England without Atkinson but regains Carse and Woakes for first test against India
England's Shoaib Bashir, second right, celebrates the wicket of Zimbabwe's Craig Ervine with team-mates on day two of the Rothesay International test series match between England and Zimbabwe, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England, Friday May 23, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) From left, England's Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Sam Cook, Shoaib Bashir and Jamie Smith stand with the trophy after winning the Rothesay International test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) From left, England's Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Sam Cook, Shoaib Bashir and Jamie Smith stand with the trophy after winning the Rothesay International test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) England's Shoaib Bashir, second right, celebrates the wicket of Zimbabwe's Craig Ervine with team-mates on day two of the Rothesay International test series match between England and Zimbabwe, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England, Friday May 23, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) From left, England's Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Sam Cook, Shoaib Bashir and Jamie Smith stand with the trophy after winning the Rothesay International test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) England's remodeled pace attack lost Gus Atkinson to injury but has regained Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse for the first test against India starting on June 20 in Leeds. With Atkinson ruled out of selection after injuring his right hamstring in the innings defeat of Zimbabwe in last month's one-off test, England again has had to shuffle a fast-bowler unit missing injured pair Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (thumb) and permanently deprived of now-retired stalwarts James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Advertisement Woakes has only recently returned from a long-term ankle injury and has been playing for England's second-string Lions against India A. Carse also missed the match against Zimbabwe while he fully recovered from a toe injury sustained while playing in the Champions Trophy in February, but is set to return. Meanwhile, Jamie Overton, a bowling allrounder, has been picked despite breaking his right little finger during a one-day international against the West Indies on May 29 and is back in the test squad for the first time since June 2022 when he earned his sole cap against New Zealand. That was at Headingley, where England and India will begin their highly anticipated five-match series. Also in the 14-man squad is rising star batter Jacob Bethell, who didn't return home from the Indian Premier League to play against Zimbabwe but has been playing in the ODIs against the Windies. Advertisement It looks to be a straight shootout between Bethell and Ollie Pope to bat at No. 3, but Pope has the edge given he is vice captain and scored a big century against the Zimbabweans. There will be further tests at Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford and the Oval. ___ England squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes. ___ AP cricket:
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Derby 2025: horse-by-horse guide to all the runners
Al Wasl Storm Trainer/jockey Owen Burrows/David Probert, stall 13 One of two runners in the green and white silks of Ahmad al Shaikh, whose twin passions in racing appear to be having runners in the Derby and paying as little as possible to buy them. It is a hard approach to knock, however, as Khalifa Sat, at 150-1, and Hoo Ya Mal, at 50-1, reached the frame in 2020 and 2022 respectively. Advertisement In terms of value at least, the owner has excelled himself here, having paid €7,000 for the son of an obscure stallion Affinisea (so obscure that even his trainer admits he had to look him up when al Shaikh's latest purchase turned up on his doorstep). That said, a realistic view of his form – unraced at two, three runs since April, one minor win – gives him next to no chance of success, so each-way backers hoping for lightning to strike a third time are relying on the fact that, like his high-achieving predecessors, he can't read the form book. Damysus John & Thady Gosden/James Doyle, stall 15 One of the least experienced in the field with three outings in the book and it showed behind Pride Of Arras in the Dante at York last time. He took a few strides to go through the gears, edging left, before running on to finish second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner. He did not see a racecourse until December and the rough edges in the Dante offer encouragement there is significant improvement to come,. Definitely an unusual profile for a potential Derby winner – maiden win on the all-weather in December, then two defeats at the start of his three-year-old season – but the talent is probably there if this unique test does not prove to be a step too far at this early stage of his career. Delacroix Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore, stall 14 Effectively confirmed as favourite when Ryan Moore plumped for the ride on Wednesday from three Aidan O'Brien options and there was a lot to like about the way he put nearly three lengths between himself and the runner-up in Leopardstown's Derby Trial last month. He had solid, progressive form in his juvenile season too, culminating in defeat by a nose in the Group One Futurity at Doncaster, and the 12-furlong trip should be right up his street. The Leopardstown trial has not highlighted a Derby winner since 2002, however, and it was his seventh race, which leaves less room for improvement than most of his opponents Whether the pluses and minuses make him a genuine 3-1 shot is the first question every punter needs to consider. There are tempting options at better odds, and with more room scope for improvement, if they decide against it. Green Storm Charlie Johnston/Billy Loughnane, stall eight The other half ofal Shaikh's two-pronged attack and his second-string behind Al Wasl Storm according to the betting, although since both are priced in three figures the concept of a first string is perhaps irrelevant. In typical al Shaikh fashion, he cost relative peanuts, having been knocked down for €12,000 as a yearling (Damysus cost nearly 50 times as much). He has already repaid that several times over after finishing one-and-a-half lengths behind Tennessee Storm in a French Group One event last October. Likely to be remembered only as the first Derby ride for the 19-year-old Billy Loughnane, the fastest-rising young star in the weighing room. Lambourn Aidan O'Brien/Wayne Lordan, stall 10 The third-string in his trainer's challenge for a record-extending 11th Derby according to the betting, but since only three of O'Brien's winners set off as the clear favourite, that is perhaps not quite the red flag it may seem. Rain would be in his favour as he stayed on strongly to win the Chester Vase over an extended 12 furlongs last time out and also has winning form on soft ground, albeit in a weak event at the remote French racing outpost of Craon. Likely to be staying on most strongly in the closing stages, though the obvious concern is that a lack of tactical speed early in the race will leave him with too much to do. Lazy Griff Charlie Johnston/Christophe Soumillon, stall three Finished just over a length behind the winner when second in the Chester Vase last month, which is a near-facsimile of the profile Wings Of Eagles brought before his 40-1 Derby victory in 2017. Adayar, in 2021, was another recent winner who was beaten in his trial and with jockey Christophe Soumillon flying in can catch the eye of each-way punters. Any rain will be in his favour. Midak Francis-Henri Graffard/Mickael Barzalona, stall four This year's race is being run in memory of Aga Khan IV, who died in February and whose five Derby winners as an owner included Shergar, whose 10-length winning margin in 1981 remains the record. This late arrival will carry the same green and red colours to the start. It is clearly asking a lot for him to bring them back again in similar style, but he remains unbeaten after three starts and showed a fine turn of foot to quicken clear in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud in May – the same race Pour Moi, the last French-trained Derby winner and with Mickael Barzalona in the saddle to boot, used as their stepping stone to Epsom immortality in 2011. New Ground Henri Devin/Alexis Pouchin, stall 17 The powerful Juddmonte operation stumped up £75k to add Henri Devin's colt to the field so he has clearly been showing a good deal more at home than he has on the track. He has finished a close third – at Longchamp and Chantilly – on his two outings this year. In the first of those, he was less than a length behind Andre Fabre's Cualificar, who finished a half-length behind the winner (and from a much wider draw) in the French Derby at Chantilly last Sunday. The 12-furlong trip is also likely to see further improvement. The case in his favour is based on ifs, buts and maybes and he will do well to reach the fourth place required to get his entry fee back. Nightime Dancer Richard Hannon/Jamie Spencer, stall nine Set off as an unfancied 9-1 shot for the Lingfield Derby Trial – which looks below-par this year – and was beaten nearly four lengths behind Aidan O'Brien's Puppet Master, who was taken out of this race before the final declarations. Has masses of stamina in his pedigree but rather less of the speed a Derby winner needs to go with it. The St Leger already looks a more convincing option even if he is up to running in Group One company (and the jury is out on that too). Nightwalker John & Thady Gosden/Tom Marquand, stall five Finished fifth of 11 in the Dante Stakes at York last month, three-and-a-half lengths behind Pride Of Arras and two-and-a-quarter behind his stable companion, Damysus. Since that was his fifth start there is no obvious reason why he should improve past either of those colts, who have fewer miles on the clock. Bare form does not tell the whole story as he fell out of the stalls and was well off the pace before making eye-catching progress. He joined Damysus on a jaunt down the hill and around Tattenham Corner on gallops morning last week and handled the track well. He seems sure to improve for the mile-and-a-half trip and a top-four finish may not be beyond him. Advertisement Uttoxeter: 2.00 Miss Goldfire 2.30 Ernest Gray 3.00 Lost Connections 3.30 Baltray 4.00 Hecouldbetheone 4.33 Auntie Maggie 5.05 Crystal Mer. Hamilton: 2.12 Blue Nguru 2.42 Betweenthesticks 3.12 Sea Legend 3.42 Korker 4.12 Yermanthere 4.43 Sir Garfield (nap) 5.17 Arch Legend. Lingfield: 2.20 Dubai Harbour 2.50 Blewburton 3.20 Keybaar 3.50 Gallant 4.25 Touchwood 4.55 Maid In Chelsea. Chelmsford City: 5.00 Eclipser 5.35 Nifty 6.05 Smokey Malone 6.35 Hot Dancer 7.07 Danza Parigina 7.42 Maxident 8.17 Ornately (nb) 8.47 City Captain. Ffos Las: 6.15 Reina Del Mar 6.45 Unspeakable 7.20 Gavin 7.55 Ferret Jeeter 8.30 You Say Nothing 9.00 Twist Of Fatecatch. Pride Of Arras Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan, stall 16 A skim through the list of Derby winners of the past 25 years may suggest the days when a small owner-breeder could mix it with the big guns from Godolphin, Coolmore and Juddmonte are long gone. This year's Dante Stakes winner, though, may beg to differ. David and Vimy Aykroyd have four mares at their Yorkshire stud farm and their once-raced colt by up-and-coming sire New Bay was an 18-1 shot for his trial at York. He showed all the attributes you would look for in a Derby winner – tactical speed, balance, a turn of foot and a willingness to quicken between horses – on the way to victory. His best days are ahead of him with two runs in the book. Soft ground could be a concern – though the same is true for many of his rivals – but he stayed on well on Knavesmire, should get the trip and is a must for any shortlist. Rogue Impact James Owen/Luke Morris, stall one As ever, there is a scattering of runners ithat are seemingly there mainly to give their owners a day out. While James Owen is very much one of the trainers of the moment, with a number of decent winners on the Flat and over jumps since taking out a licence three seasons ago, this syndicate-owned runner seems to fall squarely into that category. Well beaten in the Lingfield Trial and the slimmest hope of any on that form. Last of six in what looked a poor renewal of that race last time and while a repeat of his winning form in a maiden in April should be enough to finish in front of Al Wasl Storm – who was a length-and-a-quarter away in second – the other 18 runners will be more of a problem. Ruling Court Charlie Appleby/William Buick, stall seven A Classic winner already in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month and the form of that race received a significant boost when City Of Gold, the runner-up, ran away with the Irish equivalent a couple of weeks ago. That is more than enough to send him to Epsom at the top of the ratings – Timeform has him 4lb clear – but the obvious question is whether his stamina will stretch to another half-mile. The recent record of Guineas winners in the Derby is distinctly mixed with the past three – Dawn Approach, Saxon Warrior and Kameko – all beaten after setting off as favourite. If he stays, he will probably win. If he does not, he certainly won't. Sea Scout Simon & Ed Crisford/Harry Davies, stall 18 The only runner in the field with a 'C' – for previous course winner – against his name, thanks to a narrow success in the Blue Riband Trial over 10 furlongs in April and this is a track that can take some getting used to, running downhill at speed. That is pretty much the only tick in a positive box and the same was true of many previous winners of the same race (in recent years, it has guaranteed a place in the Derby lineup so there is often no reason not to run). The last Blue Riband winner to follow up was Blue Peter in 1939. Stanhope Gardens Ralph Beckett/Hector Crouch, stall two There has been plenty of attention on the trainer's prime contender, Pride Of Arras, but less of a focus on his second string, who has had an unconventional preparation but has some interesting form. The most obvious is a close second behind Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket last October and it is notable that Beckett has made every effort to get him to the post, even persuading Salisbury to stage a race at an evening meeting last month that would give him much-needed prep for the Classic. Stanhope Gardens duly made short work of two opponents and there is little doubt his trainer sees him as a serious contender. Well adrift of his stable companion in the betting and the ratings, but probably close to the top of many punters' lists for each-way purposes. Tennessee Stud Joseph O'Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle, stall 12 A Group One winner as a two-year-old in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud, a race that has been won by plenty of top-class colts on the way to a glittering three-year-old career. So far so good in terms of his record at the highest level – Ruling Court, the 2,000 Guineas winner, is the only other in the field with a previous Group One success. On the downside, last season's Critérium – when Green Storm was second – had three runners and was probably the weakest in the race's history. Returned to action in Leopardstown's Derby trial, where he finished around six-and-a-half lengths behind Delacroix. He was noticeably weak in the market beforehand – the implication being that he should improve significantly for the run – but seven lengths is probably asking too much. The Lion In Winter Aidan O'Brien/Colin Keane, stall 19 The undoubted enigma of the race, not least as his trainer's Derby winners in the past two seasons have been bouncing back from disappointing runs on seasonal debuts. Unlike Auguste Rodin in 2023 and City Of Troy last year, however, The Lion In Winter has been passed over by Ryan Moore after surrendering his unbeaten record with a tame sixth behind Pride Of Arras in the Dante at York. He is bred to appreciate the step up in trip and handed Ruling Court the only defeat of his career, in the Acomb Stakes at York last August, but will struggle to get home if he again fails to settle. A draw in the widest stall may not help in that regard. Respected if only because he has the initials 'A.P.O'B' on his saddlecloth, but the Moore Factor – or rather, the lack-of-Moore Factor – has to be a concern. Tornado Alert Saeed bin Suroor/Oisin Murphy, stall 11 The racing landscape has changed significantly since Saeed bin Suroor saddled Lammtarra to win the Derby in 1995, in the earliest years of the Godolphin operation. The trainer's fortunes within the organisation have since waxed and waned, to the point where the man who won four UK trainers' championships between 1996 and 2004 is now a furlong behind Charlie Appleby, his near-neighbour in Newmarket, in the pecking order. Appleby has won two Derbys since Bin Suroor saddled his most recent runner in 2017 and having landed the Classic at the first attempt three decades ago his 24 runners since have all been beaten. Ran a fine race to finish fourth in the 2,000 Guineas and has Oisin Murphy, the reigning champion jockey, to do the steering. He took a strong hold to lead the field for the first six furlongs at Newmarket and looks more likely to appreciate a drop in trip than a step up to a mile-and-a-half. Tuscan Hills Raphael Freire/David Egan, stall six Kia Joorabchian has ploughed millions into his Amo Racing operation in recent seasons and been rewarded with a couple of placings for big outsiders in the Derby, but his only representative in this year's Classic may struggle. He is, at least, stabled in the right place for a potential winner, as his young handler has taken over at Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge stable in Newmarket after the legendary trainer's retirement at the end of last year. His form is well short of what is likely to be required as he seemed to struggle to get even the 10-furlong trip at York when finishing seventh in the Dante.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
McDavid and Draisaitl put Oilers on their backs to beat Panthers and win Stanley Cup Final Game 1
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — When the Edmonton Oilers needed a spark to open the Stanley Cup Final, Leon Draisaitl scored just more than a minute in. When they needed the tying goal after falling behind to the defending champion Florida Panthers, Connor McDavid delivered the perfect pass. And when Game 1 was threatening to drag into a second overtime, McDavid found Draisaitl for the winner. Draisaitl and McDavid took over Wednesday night when it mattered most, delivering a series-opening 4-3 victory that put them three wins from the championship they've been working toward for a decade. 'They don't take many nights off, that's for sure,' teammate Brett Kulak said. "They usually are our top guys every single night, and the bigger the stage the better they get.' Playing through pain, Draisaitl did not score a goal in the final last year, when Edmonton lost the first three games, got back even and dropped a heartbreaker in Game 7 to fall short. Healthier now than during that run, he needed only 66 seconds to get on the board. 'There's maybe nobody better,' McDavid said. An MVP finalist from a dominant regular season, Draisaitl was one of the best players on the ice all game and finished it with a power-play goal 19:29 into OT. 'He's a top-three player in the world,' Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. 'He just looks very confident, very comfortable and he's doing his thing.' So was McDavid, who fed Ekholm for the equalizer with 13:27 left in regulation. McDavid skated the puck through the zone and made everything happen late in overtime, too, with Draisaitl on the receiving end of a pass and thankful McDavid and everyone else made it easier for him to hammer a shot home. 'It's a special feeling,' Draisaitl said. 'It's great for right now but we've got to look ahead and get ready for Game 2.' Edmonton forward Kasperi Kapanen, who nearly scored a few minutes earlier when he got in all alone, was almost speechless trying to explain what it's like watching McDavid and Draisaitl summon more playoff magic. 'I don't really have words for you guys,' Kapanen said. 'These guys are generational talents and future Hall of Famers, for sure." McDavid has taken home the Hart Trophy three times, led the NHL in scoring five times and last year won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in a losing effort. Draisaitl has also won the Hart, the Art Ross for most points and the Rocket Richard for the most goals. What they have not won together is the Stanley Cup, the trophy that was brought out onto a table on the ice just before puck drop. Thanks to McDavid and Draisaitl, the Oilers are another step closer to the franchise's first title in 35 years, and them raising their play at the most crucial of times was not at all surprising to those around them. 'I've seen them do it many times,' goaltender Stuart Skinner said. 'Hopefully I'm able to see them do it a lot more.'
