2025 Belmont Stakes Roundup: Journalism, Sovereignty set for rematch

The 2025 Belmont (G1) at Saratoga is less than one week away. Catch up on the latest news as we count down to Saturday’s 157th running of the Triple Crown’s third jewel:

Journalism confirmed for Belmont after sharp workout

After finishing second in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and first in the Preakness (G1), Journalism will seek another strong Triple Crown showing in the Belmont.

On Sunday morning at Saratoga, Journalism worked half a mile in :47.54, traveling the opening quarter-mile in :23 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 and six furlongs in a sharp 1:12 4/5. It was his first timed exercise since battling through a severe bumping incident to win the Preakness with an eye-catching late rally.

“Based off of what I saw here this morning, I’d be hard-pressed to find a reason not to enter [the Belmont]” trainer Michael McCarthy told the New York Racing Association. “Very good [work], just kind of a maintenance work. Obviously, you saw him kind of pick it up through the lane and gallop out strongly—final quarter in 23 and three, 23 and four, something like that. Racetrack is probably a half-step quicker.”

Sovereignty wraps up Belmont preparations with half-mile workout

The Belmont is shaping up as a much-anticipated rematch between Journalism and Sovereignty. The latter launched a relentless rally to defeat Journalism by 1 1/2 lengths in the Kentucky Derby, then skipped the Preakness to await the Belmont.

Sovereignty has been working over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. He traveled half a mile in :49.76 on May 17, clocked five furlongs in 1:02.54 on May 24, and wrapped up his major preparations with half a mile in :48.84 on Sunday. In the latter exercise, Sovereignty posted fractions of :12 3/5 and :24 2/5 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02 and six furlongs in 1:16 3/5.

“He went well,” said trainer Bill Mott. “We just wanted a nice breeze, in 48, 49, which is what we got. He galloped out good. He looked smooth. He came back good. It was a maintenance-type breeze, and that is what we got."

Latest Belmont Stakes workouts

In addition to the half-mile workouts posted by Journalism and Sovereignty, several other Belmont contenders have posted timed workouts in recent days.

On Sunday, Crudo took to the Oklahoma training track and clocked half a mile in :48.86. Fresh off a 7 1/2-length demolition of the May 17 Sir Barton S. at Pimlico, Crudo is a late addition to the prospective Belmont field. He’ll seek to give Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher a fifth win in the Belmont.

Pletcher is also entering Uncaged, a stoutly bred son of Curlin out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Dark Nile. Uncaged has the pedigree to relish the Belmont’s 1 1/4-mile distance and aims to improve while stretching out in distance off a sixth-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan. With that goal in mind, Uncaged worked half a mile in :48.67 over the Oklahoma training track last Wednesday.

Baeza, the third-place finisher from the Kentucky Derby, skipped the Preakness to freshen up for the third leg of the Triple Crown. On May 23, he worked six furlongs in a swift 1:12.40 at Santa Anita. Then he shipped to Saratoga and clocked half a mile over the Oklahoma training track in :48.93 on Monday, starting with an opening quarter-mile in :24.89 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:16.41.

Hill Road, winner of the May 10 Peter Pan (G3), has posted two timed workouts since then. Over the Belmont Park training track, he went four furlongs in :48.75 on May 24 and the same distance in :49.00 on Friday.

Wood Memorial (G2) winner Rodriguez has bounced back nicely after scratching from the Kentucky Derby due to a minor foot bruise. At Santa Anita, he clocked seven furlongs in 1:24.80 on May 23 and five furlongs in 1:00.40 on Friday.

One Belmont contender who hasn’t posted a timed workout since his last race is Heart of Honor, the late-running fifth-place finisher from the Preakness. Instead, Heart of Honor galloped at Saratoga on Sunday.

“He went a mile, building up into a three-quarter pace,” said trainer Jamie Osborne. “He didn’t break any land-speed records, but that was never our intention. He looked to move well, and [rider] Jimmy McCarthy was pleased with the feel he gave him.”

Belmont Stakes post position draw slated for Monday evening

Entries and jockey assignments for the Belmont were finalized on Sunday. In alphabetical order, the field is as follows:

Baeza (Flavien Prat)
Crudo (John Velazquez)
Heart of Honor (Saffie Osborne)
Hill Road (Irad Ortiz Jr.)
Journalism (Umberto Rispoli)
Rodriguez (Mike Smith)
Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado)
Uncaged (Luis Saez)

Post positions for the Belmont will be drawn on Monday at 5:00 p.m. ET. The draw will take place at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Join us on June 7 for a rematch that will shake the stands. Many top Kentucky Derby contenders return for the Belmont S. (G1) to fight for the finish, including probable contender Journalism, winner of Preakness 150, and Sovereignty, winner of Derby 151. Who will stand in the winner's circle for Belmont?

Stay with us throughout Belmont Day during stakes races as we bring you the latest horse racing news, live odds, expert picks, and more. It is sure to be an exciting day of racing!

Also, come chat with our expert panel regarding Friday and Saturday racing during Saratoga's Friday card, including the Acorn Stakes!