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SOVEREIGNTY BEATS JOURNALISM IN THE BELMONT STAKES | Kentucky Derby hero proves too good at Saratoga
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- Published on Mar 10, 2026
- For the second time this year, Sovereignty downed Journalism in emphatic fashion, adding the Grade One Belmont Stakes to his Kentucky Derby crown. The Preakness hero, Journalism, made an aggressive move on the home bend, much like the tactics he utilised at Churchill Downs, and just as he did in the 'Run for the Roses', Sovereignty tracked his move and picked off his rival in the home straight.
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Closing speed of Sovereignty is just absolutely ridiculous!
Bigger, stronger, and faster. Sovereignty!
Well rested. Bigger & Stronger & too much in the Tank. Another great stretch run from him & his Jockey.
Why do you capitalize random words?
@mikeyt3784Is why do you care🤡
@mikeyt3784
I know, makes us wonder. But usually when it's a random word it's to emphasize it, maybe.
There's another person on many comment sections for horse racing who capitalizes every word except the little ones, like is, of, the, etc.
@mikeyt3784- so sorry. please forgive me.
@jrbanks2983 I capitalize a few of my words strictly for EMPHASIS. Some people who are hyper-sensitive and get their "fee-wings" hurt really easily accuse me of yelling at them. LMAO!
The Kentucky Derby was a gut buster IMO...
Well rested avoiding Preakness
That was ultra-impressive.
1 1/4 mile vs 1973's 1 1/2 mile.
Congratulations to Sovereignty. Winning the Belmont stakes. Great race to all the horses. All great champions. 🐎
At the winners celebration at the Preakness toward the end I remember someone saying
"Bring on Sovereignty"
Sometimes you gotta be careful what you wish for.
Got that right!
Why spoil the video of the race by putting the outcome in the thumnail.
Que casualidad,el nro2 de secretariat
Great race. Terrible camera angles and worse calling. Fox was not ready to cover this race. Congratulations Sovereignty. A great ‘two-thirder club member’ who deserved a better year.
Coverage was alot better quality from Fox
Terry bradshaw?
i love these horses
Congratulations Godolphin Owner Sheikh Mohammed Trainer Jockey for winning Belmont Stakes
awesome confirmation
Had the exata lol
Well deserved 🐎💙🎉#sovereignty
Thanks trifecta 🎉
Congratulations to team Godolphin
Nice ride, nice win.😊
Awesome! Loved it! So did my wallet.
Wow😮
Great race
Wow just like Kentucky Derby .
❤❤❤❤❤
pues if you cross it back to back 2 more time you get a Dark Red
Sovereignty is the best 3yo old it was no excuse this time, I had Journalism to win but he can't beat Sovereignty.
The best so far are Sovereignty
Journalism
Baeza
👏🏻
donde se pone de manifiesto la relacion animal y hombre y dando el resultado la victoria, es algo evidente que el hombre conoce al animal y sabe cuanto es el momento para que el mismo responda y lograr con ello la victoria.....
Well done team team bill mott
BEST HORSE OFF THE PACE,FANTASTIC CLOSER
Goldphin need to race this against a Appleby horse now.
So far this year he is the best 3yrs old in the world
With this win, Sovereignty is #1 on the World's Best Racehorse rankings!
I wonder if Journalism struggles a bit with the longer distances
Pulling Up 🚗🚗🚗🚗
Journalism was so brave in the PS I wanted him to win this showdown, pity but the winner is quality.
He could’ve won the
TRIPLE CROWN
But they didn’t race Preakness
Yes Sovereignty is the best horse in the world.Congratulations
Lucid. Beautiful cars with the best batteries.
Great race with the big 3 all showing up again. The winner just has too much speed for Journalism at this stage of their careers. Hopefully we see another rematch in the BC classic.
When's that race
@marcusdavisdavis8986it’s usually late Oct/ early Nov. But they might race each other again before then at the traverse stakes race in August . That will be here in Saratoga.
Might see one in the Travers
Wonder if he would have won the crown
ask his owners who would not let him run
Exact same order as the Kentucky Derby
Hard to question Sovereignty as the best 3 year old, but you can’t help but wonder how well would he have run if he ran instead the Preakness?
هلابكم هلابكم هلا وغلا اهلا وسهلا بكم ربي يحفظكم ويسعدكم يوفقكم ويطول عمركم انتم هيبه ورفعت راس انتم تاج وفخر وعلم لأمة العربية أدعوا الكم من الله أن يلهمكم الصحة والعافية والموفقية والنجاح تحياتي لكم جميعا والسلام عليكم ورحمه الله وبركاته
he just likes running
❤❤❤❤❤sovereignty just crushes his foes
sovereignty would've been the next triple crown winner😢 i think it was a stupid move to hold him back
The quality looks awful here.
I Received a LOT of Pushback When i Predicted That Sovereignty Will More Than Likely Not be That Far Back and Contrary to Most Opinions He Will THRIVE on This Saratoga Surface at 10F and Eat This Field For Dinner in The Stretch
I was a little surprised at first but he looked great being up that close. Obviously that was the plan because they were concerned about the track favoring front runners. Mott and Jr. Are a winning team for sure!
No from me. Showed 47 on the form a few starts. Worked in 48 4/5 on the OKLAHOMA.
This is his home track
he was second favorite
That horse could have won the Triple Crown but the schedule was too quick for the owners! Tell that to all the triple crown horses. Especially the greatest horse to win the triple "Secretariat."
what would have happened if there was a potential Triple Crown? It wouldn't have been legitimate,,,
But we know they can run in the slop!
2 outta 3 ain't bad!!
True. But 3 out of 3 is exponentially better. Triple crown winners are remembered forever. 2 out of three winners are forgotten in a year.
@davidhoekstra8671
And when the length of races are less and ran elsewhere....
These winners of the Triple always have an * astrix by their "less than" win.
Ya... officially they win the Triple Crown - but to real fans, it's not quite the
same level.
And this year just might be the year people actually
DO remember Sovereignty's 2 wins, because of all the press discussions etc.
Not the real 1.5 mile race. I believe the change of venue relates to who they want to win.. it’s a Sht.
You know Google is free right? The race was held at Saratoga last year and this year because they're doing construction at Belmont Park to redo the race track.
THE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN SOVEREIGNTY AND JOURNALISM CAME AND WENT AND KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER SOVEREIGNTY RULED THE DAY AT THE BELMONT STAKES AT SARATOGA RACE COURSE OVER PREAKNESS STAKES HERO JOURNALISM!! IT LIVED UP TO THE HYPE!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Motts horse win pretty easy
@kevinpantera4429 YES, HE DID!! HE WON BECAUSE HE HAD REST AND WAS READY FOR THE DISTANCE!! NO GRAVEYARD OF CHAMPIONS FOR THIS FUTURE LEGEND!! THANK YOU KEVIN!! REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND INSIGHT!!😊
I think Jounalisms win was one of the greatest races ive seen
@toddwormsley4869 IT WAS, AT THE TIME, NOW SOVEREIGNTY IS BACK IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, BUT THEY COULD MEET UP AGAIN FOR POSSIBLY THE HASKELL. THE TRAVERS, OR EVEN THE BREEDERS CUP CLASSIC!! WHO KNOWS WHAT THEIR OWNERS AND TRAINERS WILL DECIDE ON FOR THEM NEXT, THEY ARE BOTH MASTERCLASS HORSE'S!! WE WILL SEE WHAT WILL COME FOR THEM NEXT, JUST KEEP A EYE ON THE HEADLINES!! THANK YOU TODD, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND INSIGHT!!❤
@janetmarshall7171Janet, all the best this summer at Saratoga. The August place to be!!
If it isn't run at 12 furlongs (1.5 miles) it's Belmont in name only not the "test of the champion". It's just not the same.
Agreed. That’s what’s special about the Belmont Stakes.
@greggbuchman8215 no, that's what makes the Triple Crown Special. If no TC possibility, the Belmont is just another marathon.
@jameschan9634 Tell that to the owners, trainers, jockeys, and especially the horses who participate in the race.
@greggbuchman8215 If so, then why didn't Sovereignty run in the Preakness????? If he's the best, and his connections thought so, then, by your reasoning, they should have tried to win that BOGUS Triple Crown. YET, they STILL SKIPPED the Preakness, to prepare for a MUCH SHORTER Belmont?????
Don't need to, Belmont traditionally 1 1/2 not 1 & 1/4...... traditionally test of champions the stepping up to 1 & 1/2... @greggbuchman8215
God's sovereignty beats journalism!! ☺️
Again.
??? They are all God's creatures some are just faster over some distances than others..
i really dislike seeing the belmont raced at a mile and a quarter........it loses it's uniqueness.
Same results kentucky and belmont for sovereignty beating journalism and baeza.
Not a valid triple crown without the 1 1/2 Miles. Sovereignty would've won though.
maybe...and maybe not
It isn't a Triple Crown in any case because Sovereignty didn't enter, much less win, the Preakness. The distances and scheduling of the three races have varied over the years, so that isn't a big deal.
@patriciolopez8420 By maybe and maybe not, you mean, very likely, I presume.
I agree!
How does 2 races make a triple?
MAKE SOVEREIGNTY GREAT AGAIN.
How ironic.
Secretariat Bloodline
Practically all race horses, with few exceptions have Secretariat bloodlines.
That's true
Shame if Sovereignty ran the preakness we never know if he could Wim triple crown
Would love to see him race in the Japan cup and Arc De Triomphe ... What a lovely bonus that would be for the connections if he can pull it off
Don't see him on grass at all!
@kevinpantera4429 agree beautiful horse but theres a reason Sheik M not mixing it up with turf and dirt... he has Ruling Court in Europe on turf..
Did not. .sorry
Best in the world ?
BoldForbs
From PR won the Derby lost the Preakness and won the Belmont.
did horse bump Journalism
The worst camera coverage of a horse race I've ever seen. Worst sound system ever of a horse race.
Why didn't Sovereignty run for triple??
Because WAS TOO MUCH TO HANDLE
FOR TRAINER AND OWNER...IS SAD BECAUSE THE HORSE DESERVE TO BE THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNER PERIOD NOT QUESTIONS ASK
@bobbymadera3234 Bogus Belmont, would be a Bogus Triple Crown.
Because his owner and trainer didn't like the short turnaround from the Kentucky Derby to the Preakness Stakes. The most famous colt to not attempt the Triple Crown was Man o' War, who did not enter the Kentucky Derby.
@roberthudson1959 yep because his owner was a snob/ prejudiced about the course/ region/ state and wouldn't run Man O War in the race apparently.
His owner & trainer never were going to run him in the Preakness, for good reason.
The entire 'park' is a dump! Stables, RR potties are a mess, elevator broken, etc.
Now way was Sheik Muhammad's special horse nor his staff saw a need to be there.
Besides, with an astrix by Triple races which were
not the correct length... He didn't see the need to
go for it.
worst track can't see the horses half the race. terrible
Journalism was head to head with. Sovereignty. Which means equal But than sovereinty overpowered him. I hope it’s not over.
Was that the Saratoga Stakes aka Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes but held in Saratoga due to renovations being done at Belmont . Belmont set to reopen next year .
why the distance of the Belmont st is reduced??? It's clear , that Sovereignty is the best horse on 1 and 1/4 mile.and on 1 ;5 miles?Can he beat Tonalist in the real Belmont on 1and a half mile,or American Triple Crown Horse s?
@ОльгаТарасова-х2ю
The actual Belmont site & track are being remodeled.
Where it was held, that track made the mileage decision. Why shorter, I don't know.
“The best three year old in the world”……what a ridiculous claim! Hyperbole beyond any justification or reasoning. The best in the USA, maybe yes, but don’t claim the rest of the world when there is no comparison or correlation at this time. At the end of the season there just might be an argument for that, but there are many races to be run across the world before that. Spoilt the whole video of a fine race and an excellent performance by a very good horse.
Yup.... Even before Sov's 3-yr old campaign still
has races to run....
Never/rarely can one claim, (w race horses)
'Best in the world!'
I think horses racing long races and jumping over bushes is a superior overall quality horse then Just dirt or Just turf shorter fast races!
Doesn't mean best in the world....
Perhaps ... Sov will be
Best in the US, on dirt, for 3 yr olds in 2025.
Best three year old in the world? Getting a bit carried away son.
Yes...Secretariat's still #1
@melissaphillips6912 _Current_ 3-year-old. As in this year. Sovereignty is likely going to be widely viewed as the best 3-year-old of this crop. When it comes time for him to hit the breeding shed, he'll be one of the most sought out, along with Journalism. Baeza is no slouch, either, and we still have a few big races this year. These horses' performances in the Travers and the BC Classic can really boost them, especially a horse like Baeza.
I think he meant for this year best 3 y.o.
American exceptionalism at its finest. The best American is by definition the best overall.
@roberthudson1959 Ha ha, ❤ clearly the presenter doesn't watch non US racing, or watched the English Derby run on turf yesterday.
It's great that Americans think the rest of the world doesn't exist,the best 3 year old in the world is a laugh, just cos it won an American race, it's the same as the ,"world series",an American competition only
Someone needs to explain to me why it makes any sense to insult your audience and ruin the excitement by putting the result in the title??? Surely you are better than this??
All the journalism fakers made me a lot of money, thank you😂
Horses excellent, announcer sucked.
The best 3 year old in usa not the world.american arrogance.
The announcer made that mistake by saying that.
We Americans mostly do not think that . .
"Best in the World" thing.
If he's still a winner in Oct/Nov at the Breeders' Cup, then we can say that on the dirt, for 2025, Sov was the best 3-yr old in the US.
Triple Crown races should be- if a horse doesn't run in the Derby, it doesn't run in the Preakness; and if it doesn't run in the Preakness, it doesn't run in the Belmont. Sovereignty was only run for the prize money after a 5 week rest; Journalism ran all three races, and was barely outrun. I wish the people in charge would limit the Derby to twelve horses, the top 8 run Saturday of the Memorial weekend, the top 4 run the Saturday of 4th of July. So much better for the horses; so much more interesting for the watchers!
Where does that leave a horse that was ‘injured’ or ‘not ready’ for the Derby but had intended to run in it? It just isn’t how racing works, everyone has the right to enter their horse if it meets the race qualifications. I can’t see this proposal would make in more interesting in any way.
@ianarnett
I'm pretty sure one lays out an idea, structure and if this - then that... for entrance to the Triple Crown Races.
It's always clear in this scenario, and in every race I can think of . . that no one at all would expect a horse to run if the race prior, or the day prior to the next race an injury, issue or high temperature is discovered - of course it would not race. That's a given.
I too, once all the remodeling of tracks is finished, to again see trainers seriously make a stand to do all 3 races, barring no medical issue pops up.
Once the original 3 sites are back to their new normal . .
and all of the previous race lengths are returned . . I truly believe you'll see a surge of owners going for the Triple 👑
Patience. 2027 (?) 🤞
Lmmfao awe why you crying ? Cuz your west coast horse got blitzed? 😂… you said he was barely outrun, by who ? That race wasn’t even close in the Belmont 😂
@jarret81The Journalism fans are ridiculous. Sovereignty is just a better horse and as Stone Cold says and that's the bottom line
Why do the Americans think they are the world? The best 3 yr old in America maybe.
Without Sovereignty running in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont, Journalism would have looked like a strong horse. Sovereignty has demonstrated 'push button' acceleration not seen since Dancing Brave, the European super horse. I think that if this Belmont had been raced at its standard distance of 1.5 miles, Sovereignty would have won by 25 lengths.
So explain his loss to Tappan Street
@vaderam That's actually the one race Junior Alvarado wasn't his jockey
@vaderamBad piloting. Left him far too much to do in the home straight against a good horse. Why does everybody think only flawless perfection is good these days.
@vaderam Great horses lose. There are many factors that affect them. Even Secretariat lost to Onion.
he had the other horses within 3-6 lengths at the finish - no way he could have won by 25 by racing just another 1/4 mile.
the winner skipped the Preakness, the rest could be the difference. Their rematch becomes THE headline for Racing for the rest of the year. Hope they settle things in the Breeders Cup.
Breeders Cup Classics Sovereignty is taking it all. No question ! As great as Journalism is he is not faster than Sovereignty!
@blackandwhiteandtherainbow I guess you think that there will be no new developments for the whole rest of the year, and everything is set and dried. Are you so sure that you're willing to bet the house?
To think, if Sovereignty raced the Preakeness we'd have had a Triple Crown 👑 🤔
Maybe
I was thinking the same thing
I wholeheartedly believe Sovereignty would be TC had he ran Preakness . But if Sovereignty never ran this year , Journalism would clearly be TC winner. Both great horses🎉🎉🎉
@blackandwhiteandtherainbowyou have a good point.
@blackandwhiteandtherainbow we will never know will we, as Sov didn't run the Preakness... gotta roll the dice.. Hats off to Jornalism's connections they took their chances.. lots of & buts now.
That horse could've easily been a triple crown winner but instead they held it back, at the prime of its life. What a shame.
there are no guarantees. he didn't race the preakness so NO win. and yea, it IS a shame he didn't at least compete. for his team to think they needed to rest him, maybe they know something about his stamina that made them think he wouldn't be up to the 3 races in 5 weeks?
@beavis4play So what's the point in running in the Triple Crown?!
@PhilistineTheArtLuvr
Actually, until both tracks for the Preakness & Belmont are finished being remodeled....
I don't see the point for the Triple Crown, IMO.
I dunno. Sovereignty did run all three races.
Did not
Which 3 races do you speak of ? 🤷
He in fact did skip the Preakness...which is what is meant when folk say he only ran 2 of the 3 Triple races.
Best 3 yr old in the world? Typical American arrogance. U.k. Derby winner is the best
The UK Derby was trash this year
So the UK has a Derby too? Wow! Does anybody outside of the UK care about your Derby? Answer: NO.
Thanks for the laugh … Lambourn isn’t in the same class as these horses … but you can always ship him over for the Breeders Cup classic and get embarrassed…
Ya.... I've lived in the US my whole life - and I instantly winced at that.
Of course he's not the best 3 yr old in the World. 🙄
Sovereignty was the best US 3yr old in the Belmont this year.
And that is all.
Please don't lump all Americans in, that we think only we are the best. We mostly think no such thing.
In any given year, I'm sure the globe has 20 to 30 super top drawer 3 yr olds who, in their own countries & areas are on-par (same league) with each other as the best group of 3yr olds that year.
Hard to ever pin it in only 1 or 2 of them.
The track announcer goofed, not we Americans.
@jonlbdg charlie appleby brings his team over and wins plenty in america, we got royal ascot which is like the olympics for horses, wesley ward brings his sprinters over and does well, the aussies do too, love to see the best in the world clash, bring it on
As per the man steve who got so upset about calif chrome being beat in the belmont who didnt run in the Preakness its bull shit this is allowed if u win the derby it must be mandatory to run in the Preakness they have alot mire rest time and thats how chrome got beat and now journalism and its not fair sovereignty might be a great horse but mott was cs for not running him what a coward i will give no respect for horse or trainer again its not fair in the scheme of the tripple crown😊
Funny how Americans think the world consists of just America. Until he’s run somewhere else and beaten horses from other countries on foreign soil he can’t be considered the best horse in the world. Typical American commentators
let me know when your "superhorses" come to the US and win the triple-crown. funny how you elitists outside the US thinks something only matters in every country BUT the US.
@beavis4playother countries have triple crowns too.. also why do you think the US Kentucky 'Derby' is called the 'Derby', you have to go back to Europe to look at the origins of thoroughbred racing as a sport...
Yes. And since it's the commentator's mistake in saying that .....
Why claim that Americans (meaning all) think the world consist of just America. That's nonsense.
We Americans, as a whole, think no such thing. We are the melting pot of ancestors from all over the globe. We're taught of other countries and enjoy going to many diff ones - respect them too.
We do know that racing origins came from the Saudis, British and Irish.
Best 3 year old in the world is 😂
What a statement
1 There's a whole world out there Europe Japan Australia to name 3 that has top notch horses
2 the race is on the dirt
There's also turf horses
3 the distance There's sprinters and stayers
Absolutely ridiculous comment from the commentator
The Triple Crown Has Been Dealt a HUGE BLOW
Best 3 year old in the world. Americans 😂😂😂
What a beautiful horse. Sovereignty is the best in the world.
Absolutely thrilling race!!!!!! But I think of us as FANS who were cheated out of a triple crown winner!!! My pick for next year would be Reagan's wit!!!
What kind of Triple Crown would it really be since this year's Belmont wasn't raced at 1.5 miles?
Edit: I'm a huge fan, and I had to wait my _entire_ life for a Triple Crown winner. Decades. Until American Pharoah won. And I'd rather for a horse to be healthy and not race than for their trainers and owners to race them against their better judgement, potentially with devastating results, just in pursuit of their own selfish desires.
Sure, I LOVE the TC races, and I would love to see a 3rd TC winner in my lifetime, but not at the cost of a horse's life or health.
Besides, _I_ would feel cheated if the TC was won when all the races aren't even being raced at their usual distances, especially the Belmont. That's actually my favorite jewel of the crown in a lot of ways.
Nobody got cheated out if anything! Horse raced ehen and where he wants to. Thats the HORSE IWNERS OPTION, NOT YOURS, NOT THE MEDIA HYPE, NOBODY'S EXCEPT THE OWNERS OF THE HORSE! THE GENERAL PUBLIC, NOR THE MEDIA HAS ANY OWNERSHIP INTEREST WHATSOEVER! DESPITE ALL THE BS YOU HEAR!
I figured the edge went to Sovereignty when the track came up muddy... like in the derby. I don't think Journalism likes the mud. He looked like he was spinning his wheels in the stretch... he couldn't get hold of it. That's Saratoga, another bum Belmont Stakes at an upstate New York bush track. Hopefully, back to the real Belmont Stakes next year.
Your comments show me that you really don't know much about horse racing.
By the time the race went off, the track was labeled as fast. It was not a muddy track. Journalism wasn't spinning his wheels down the stretch. He simply lost to a better horse.
If you think Saratoga is a bush track, think again. It's one of the best tracks in the entire country, and the grounds crew proved this by doing a phenomenal job of sealing the track so that the race could be run on a fast surface.
And sorry to inform you, but the Belmont Stakes will be at Saratoga next year, too...
@richardbellew1795 / My friend has a saying, never get in an argument with a fool, he will bring you to his level and beat you on experience. Ignore the noise some folks are very unhappy.
@richardbellew1795thought Belmont was reopening next year .
@marlonforbes5599 They need to meet on a dry/fast track.
@marlonforbes5599 not saying at all applicable here to your retort on another's comment .... but there is another saying... never wrestle a pig you will get covered in mud but the pig will be happy.
The Belmont wasn't 1.5 miles, though, like it's supposed to be. Congratulations to the winner 🏆
They shortened it???? When...im so behind on things. Used to follow racing...pretty closely.
@MarkGonzalez-d1g
They not only shortened it,they even moved it, I believe it's back to being run at Belmont next year and back to it's original distance of twelve furlongs.
Put up Flavin for Travers and Journalism will get his revenge- his Belmont ride was terrible - you don’t go 1 1/4 at Saratoga stalking 3 wide and an early move in the final turn- Jr rode a Jerry Bailey race - just waited until the stretch and let Sovereignty rip- they are both nice horses - but that rider switch in Travers will change the results- pls Mike put up Flavin!!!!!
@bubontherunLmfao. Journalism connections are going back to California to race. They want nothing else to do with that beast that keeps running by Journalism.
@bubontherun it wasn't Rispoli's fault! Journalism is an excellent horse. Sovereignty is a great horse. Period.