Journalism Favored From Post 7 for the Belmont Stakes
The battle lines for the most eagerly awaited Triple Crown showdown in the last few years were set June 2 as a field of eight was announced for the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
It will be Sovereignty , the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner who skipped the Preakness Stakes (G1), in post 2 and Journalism , the Run for the Roses runner-up and an incredulous winner of the Preakness, in post 7 for the June 7 1 1/4-mile final jewel in the Triple Crown. Journalism is the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Sovereignty is the 2-1 second choice.
While Sovereignty’s trainer Bill Mott targeted the Belmont for Godolphin’s homebred son of Into Mischief in the days following the Kentucky Derby, the decision to run Journalism and cement the blockbuster matchup was not made until June 1.
“I think sometimes with these good horses, you don’t really find out until race day and the running starts,” said Michael McCarthy, who trains the son of Curlin for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Robert LaPenta, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Elayne Stable 5, and the Coolmore partners. “(With) all of them, you can get fooled a bit, but he is a horse that I’ve thought could participate in all three (Triple Crown) races.”
After finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, Journalism returned on two weeks rest in the Preakness and turned in a spellbinding effort as he bulled his way through horses at the top of the stretch and then made up five lengths on Gosger in the final furlong to win by a half-length.
“Off of what I’ve seen, all the videos and what-have-you, the horse seems like he’s maintaining his edge, maintaining his form,” McCarthy said.
The Belmont will also bring together the top three finishers from the Kentucky Derby as Baeza , who was a neck behind Journalism on the first Saturday in May, drew post 6 for Saturday’s race.
“You have three quality colts coming back after the Derby. That’s the good news,” said Robert Clay, whose Grandview Equine bred the son of McKinzie out of the stellar mare Puca and is a co-owner of Baeza along with C R K Stable. “It’s a good group and exciting year for our sport with good horses running for the big prizes.”
Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, was second to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Wood Memorial (G2) winner Rodriguez drew post 3 as he makes his first start since that April 5 victory due to a quarter-crack that kept him out of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
“The foot has healed up well and looks good,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “There may not be a lot of them (in the Belmont) but they are good ones. It’s a short field because the best 3-year-olds are in there.”
Top New York trainer Chad Brown will try to win his first Belmont with Peter Pan Stakes (G3) winner Hill Road (post 1), who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
Trainer Todd Pletcher, a four-time winner of the Belmont, will send out a duo of starters in Sir Barton Stakes winner Crudo (post 5) and Uncaged (post 4), who was sixth in the Peter Pan.
The field of eight for the second Belmont Stakes contested at the Spa also includes Heart of Honor (post 8), who was fifth in the Preakness in his United States debut.
This story will be updated.
