Belmont at Saratoga is a draw, but keeping the Triple Crown relevant remains a concern
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — For a second consecutive year, the Belmont Stakes is being run at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York, creating a buzz in the city that closes off Broadway downtown with the sport's spotlight shining.
Saratoga itself is a draw for avid fans, given the track's place in horse racing history and a nod to its roots, but the debate continues about how to keep the Triple Crown relevant for a casual audience.
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Belmont Stakes 2025: Picks and predictions from the experts
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Experts from The Post and Action Network handicap Saturday's 157th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Post time is approximately 7:04 p.m. Vic Cangialosi New York Post racing handicapper 1. Rodriguez: This year's Belmont Stakes (at Saratoga) has been billed as a rematch between Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby champ and Journalism, the Preakness winner. Last year, Dornoch sped to the lead and held on at a hefty price. As far as I know, this handicapper is the only 'expert' to pick the Belmont winner at Saratoga. Ever! That said, we will go with Bob Baffert's speedy Rodriguez, who will have to dance with the equally fast Crudo down the backstretch then hold off the heavy-hitting co-faves. Is he ready? Money Mike Smith will be the first to know. 2. Baeza: He's versatile. He's getting better. And he has already proven he can compete with the top-tier 3-year-olds. Stormed from the back of the pack in the Derby, but Flavien Prat may tap his speed and get the jump on the co-faves. This, I'm afraid, may upend our Rodriguez strategy. Backends a sizable exacta. 3. Journalism: Mike McCarthy's colt may be the best 3-year-old and even with the three-races-in-five-weeks theory, he is the horse to beat. 3 Post handicapper Michael Leboff predicts Preakness winner Journalism also will win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Getty Images Showed his toughness by bulling his way through stretch traffic to run down long shot Gosger in the Preakness. Gets the better of rival Sovereignty, but Rodriguez and Baeza may be fresher. Michael Leboff New York Post betting writer 1. Journalism: Odds aside, I think Journalism is the best pick to win the Belmont Stakes. He has shown he can win just about any type of race, putting him above Sovereignty for this battle. 2. Crudo: This is quite an intriguing horse. 3 Celebrity chef Bobby Flay poses next to his horse Belmont Stakes hopeful Crudo in his barn during a practice day before Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Jason Szenes / New York Post He's lightly raced and is coming off a monster performance at the Sir Barton Stakes, where he wired the field. 3. Sovereignty: Hard to poke holes in the second choice, but I think he had things break his way at the Kentucky Derby. Mike Conti Action Network racing handicapper 1. Journalism: The morning line favorite yet again. While he continues to find trouble, he is clearly talented and a length and a half away from competing for the Triple Crown. He has been training well, and if he runs his race, he wins. 2. Baeza: Ran third to Sovereignty and Journalism in the Kentucky Derby and second to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby. 3 Baeza works out at Saratoga Race Course on June 6, 2025 in preparation for Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Getty Images He had traffic trouble in the Derby but still finished with interest. He should sit closer to the pace and have first run. 3. Hill Road: Won the Peter Pan last time out after stumbling at the start. He will need to improve off that race to compete here, but he should get the pace to run into.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
How to watch the 2025 Belmont Stakes: Start time, channel, Journalism and Sovereignty post positions and more
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. It's almost time for the 157th Belmont Stakes, the final jewel in the Triple Crown. There will be no Triple Crown winner this year, after Sovereignty sat out of the Preakness Stakes, giving way for the previous favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, Journalism, to win Preakness. Both Sovereignty and Journalism will be racing in the 2025 Belmont Stakes this Saturday, June 7, at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Race-day coverage will begin as early as 10:30 a.m. ET on FS1, and as early as 2:30 p.m. ET on Fox. Are you ready to switch over from drinking Black-Eyed Susans to Belmont Jewels? Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Belmont 157 this weekend, including how to tune in without cable, Belmont Stakes odds and more. How to watch the 2025 Belmont Stakes: Date: Saturday, June 7 Advertisement Coverage start time: 10:30 a.m. Post time: 7:04 p.m. ET Location: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, New York TV channel: Fox, FS1 Streaming: DirecTV Stream, Fubo, more When is the Belmont Stakes 2025? The third jewel of the Triple Crown will be held this Saturday, June 7. What time is the Belmont Stakes on? Coverage of the 157th Belmont Stakes will begin on race day as early as 10:30 a.m. ET on FS1. Then, at 2:30 p.m. ET, coverage will also start on Fox. The race post time is set for 7:04 p.m. 2025 Belmont Stakes channel: The Belmont Stakes will air on Fox with additional coverage and special pre-race coverage airing on FS1. How to watch the Belmont Stakes without cable: 2025 Belmont Stakes TV schedule: Friday, June 6 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: America's Day at the Races (FS2) Advertisement 5-6 p.m.: Belmont Stakes Festival Friday (Fox) 6-7 p.m.: America's Day at the Races (FS1) 7:30-8 p.m.: America's Day at the Races (FS2) Saturday, June 7 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: America's Day at the Races (FS1) 2:30-4 p.m.: Belmont Stakes Festival Saturday (Fox) 4-6:30 p.m.: Belmont Day on Fox (Fox) 4-6:30 p.m.: America's Day at the Belmont (FS1) 6:30-7:30 p.m.: The Belmont Stakes (Fox) 6:30-7:30 p.m.: America's Day at the Belmont Stakes (FS1) 7:30-8:15 p.m.: America's Day at the Races (FS1) How long is the Belmont Stakes? The Belmont Stakes race distance measures 1.5 miles. As far as time goes, every horse and rider is likely looking to beat the course record of 2:24 (held by Secretariat). 2025 Belmont Purse: How much is the Belmont Stakes prize money? This year, the winner of the Belmont Stakes will receive a portion of $2 million. 2025 Belmont horse post positions and morning line odds: 1. Hill Road (10-1) Advertisement 2. Sovereignty (2-1) 3. Rodriguez (6-1) 4. Uncaged (30-1) 5. Crudo (15-1) 6. Baeza (4-1) 7. Journalism (8-5) 8. Heart of Honor (30-1) 2025 Kentucky Derby winner: Sovereignty won the 2025 Kentucky Derby, beating out Journalism, the horse pegged as the favorite to win. 2025 Preakness Stakes winner: Journalism won the 2025 Preakness. The win, paired with Sovereignty not running in the Preakness, squashed any hopes of a Triple Crown in 2025. What is the Triple Crown? The Triple Crown is made up of the big three 3-year-old thoroughbred horse races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Only 13 horses have ever won a Triple Crown. The last was Justify in 2018. More ways to watch the Belmont Stakes live without cable:
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Belmont Stakes: Battle of the champions in Triple Crown's third leg
There may be no Triple Crown at stake this year, but the stage is set for two champions to battle it out in this year's Belmont Stakes. The winner of both the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty, and the reigning Preakness Stakes champion, Journalism, are both set to take part in the final leg of this year's Triple Crown. In many ways, it will be a rematch of this year's Kentucky Derby, where Sovereignty held off the challenge of pre-race favorite Journalism to write his name in the history books of the 'most exciting two minutes in sports.' The decision was made by Sovereignty's owners to then skip the Preakness, a race Journalism managed to win, in order to focus on this weekend's Belmont Stakes. So who is this year's favorite and what can you expect from the final leg of this year's Triple Crown? The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes will once again be held at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, with a share of $2 million up for grabs. Those without a ticket can watch the action live on FOX and FS1, with the race set to get underway at 7:04 p.m. ET on Saturday. If you want to watch online, the race can be streamed on the FOX Sports app. The final stretch of this year's Kentucky Derby might well be the perfect preview for the Belmont Stakes, with both Journalism and Sovereignty going head to head in a sprint finish. The pair came off the final bend together, with Journalism initially taking the lead. But Sovereignty looked more comfortable on the wet track and powered past his rival to take the win by a length and a half. The following day, though, Sovereignty's trainer Bill Mott said the horse had a scrape on his right front pastern, which is above the hoof. Mott said it likely was from clipping heels with another horse when exiting the gate and the decision was in the following days to rest Sovereignty for the Preakness – ending dreams of a first Triple Crown since 2018. It meant Journalism was once again favorite for the 'middle jewel' and managed to grab the win from the jaws of defeat at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Journalism, ridden by Umberto Rispoli and trained by Michael McCarthy, appeared to hit a dead-end as he tried to find a way past fading horses on the final stretch and was then severely bumped as he tried to sneak through a gap. Despite being hampered in the run-in, Journalism regained some momentum and raced past the runaway leader Gosger just before crossing the line. 'In the back of mind, I thought we'd be two for two here, but you know what, just happy to get one of these. They are very, very difficult races to win,' McCarthy said after the Preakness. Attention has now turned to Saratoga Race Course for a second showdown between the two. Journalism is the favorite to win, according to the most recent odds, but Sovereignty isn't too far away in the bookmakers' estimations. 'He's been kind of the same horse since July of last summer,' trainer McCarthy said about Journalism in the buildup to this year's Belmont. '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.' It is also worth keeping an eye on Baeza who finished third in the Kentucky Derby and might have improved on that finish had the race had continued for a little longer. Sovereignty trainer Mott said he's aware that anyone from the field of eight could pose a threat. 'He's improved, as I think as many of these horses have,' Mott said of his own horse. '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.' Below are the official betting odds for this year's Belmont Stakes. Odds are accurate as of 6:10a ET on Saturday, June 7. 1. Hill Road (17/1) 2. Sovereignty (9/2) 3. Rodriguez (8/1) 4. Uncaged (23/1) 5. Crudo (15/1) 6. Baeza (7/2) 7. Journalism (1/1) 8. Heart of Honor (22/1)
