Sovereignty beats Journalism to win Belmont Stakes: Live reaction and analysis

New York Times

5 hours ago

Sovereignty wins two legs of this year's Triple Crown after winning the Kentucky Derby Associated Press
Sovereignty has won today's 157th running of the Belmont Stakes, the third race in this year's Triple Crown.
Sovereignty won two legs of this year's Triple Crown after winning the Kentucky Derby in May. Sovereignty beat Journalism, which won the Preakness Stakes, to the line for the win.
The winning margin was three lengths. Baeza finished third.
The race took place at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for the second straight year as Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., is undergoing construction.
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The rain has also dampened the traditional "run for the tables" to snag a picnic table in Saratoga's capacious and ordinarily beautiful backyard. People line up for hours outside the gates before they open and then dash to their favorite spots to claim a table. On most big days, all the tables are gone within a few minutes of the gates opening. This morning, an hour after the gates opened at 9 a.m. ET, there were still tables available.
So when turf races are moved to the dirt (they are seldom canceled entirely), you have horses that run only or primarily or best on grass, and their trainers have to desire to run them on a sloppy dirt course. Often, the distance of the race is also changed, because of the different circumferences of the various courses.
Those scratches then lead to very small fields, which makes for terrible betting and low prices.
As of now, Race 9, the Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur is still on the turf, as is Race 12, the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan.
Race 6, the Grade 2, $300,000 Wonder Again and race 10, the Grade 3, $300,000 Pennine Ridge are off the turf.
The rain has been torrential since early this morning, and its effect on today's racing card is already profound. Four races, including two stakes have already been taken off the turf, and as of 11 a.m. ET, 38 horses have been scratched.
Why does this matter? What's a little rain, anyway?
Rain softens the grass courses, which can prove dangerous for horses and which can also destroy the courses when the loose soil is kicked up by the horses' hooves. Some horses also just don't like running on soft ground.
The weather is definitely the story. It's been pouring, everything is muddy, the grass races are off the turf. The Athletic
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While this race is historically held at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., for the second consecutive year due to construction, the race is being held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The event will return to Belmont Park in 2026.
As a result, the race will not feature the typical 12-furlong or 1 1/2-mile length. Instead, the race will be 10 furlongs or 1 1/4 miles. Imagn Images
Early coverage of the Belmont Stakes will be broadcast on FS1 from 10:30 a.m. ET until 2:30 p.m. ET.
The remainder of the coverage can be found on Fox. You can also stream coverage on the Fox Sports App or Fubo. Imagn Images
The post time for the Belmont Stakes is set for 7:04 p.m. ET.
That is 4:04 p.m. PT and 6:04 p.m. CT.
Welcome to The Athletic's live coverage of the 2025 Belmont Stakes!
While this race is historically held at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., for the second consecutive year due to construction, the race is being held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The event will return to Belmont Park in 2026.
Regardless, it should be an engaging day of racing on the track and of course, the winner of the Stakes will take home a purse of $2 million.
Follow along throughout the day for the latest odds, analysis and reaction.