The horse racing world was understandably dissatisfied when Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott determined to have Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve winner Sovereignty bypass the Preakness Stakes and a possible Triple Crown bid in an all-out effort to seize the Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets.
There will be no second-guessing Mott now after Godolphin homebred Sovereignty drew away from Preakness victor Journalism by three lengths for a rousing triumph within the last leg of the Triple Crown.
The 157th Belmont, run earlier than a thrilled crowd of 46,243 at Saratoga Race Course, left little doubt as to the highest 3-year-olds within the land. With Baeza operating third, one other 3 ½ lengths behind Journalism, the $2 million Belmont replicated the Kentucky Derby end.
It needs to be famous, although, that Journalism, who extricated himself from a world of bother within the Preakness, was the one sophomore to compete in all three classics. He maybe confirmed the results of that extraordinarily difficult 1 3/16-mile take a look at as Sovereignty, below a affected person trip from Junior Alvarado, blew previous him and poured it on within the last strides of the 1 ¼-mile “Check of the Champion.”
Sovereignty, a splendid son of white-hot sire Into Mischief, accomplished his tour de power in 2:00.69. The race was diminished to a mile and 1 / 4 from the customary mile and a half and held at Saratoga for the second consecutive yr whereas conventional host observe Belmont Park undergoes an enormous $455 million makeover.
Sovereignty prevailed for the fourth time in seven profession begins with a pair of runner-up efforts and have become the clear chief within the race for the Eclipse Award as North America’s main 3-year-old male. His $1.2 million share of the purse hiked his profession earnings to $4,872,800.
The result raised a weighty what-if query. If Sovereignty had been entered within the Preakness, would possibly he have met the calls for of one of many stiffest challenges in all of sports activities and emerged because the 14th Triple Crown champion?
It’s a query that, in fact, can by no means be answered. Michael Banahan, Godolphin’s director of bloodstock, was not about to let it diminish Sovereignty’s newest accomplishment.
“Who is aware of what would have occurred. It’s water below the bridge,” Banahan mentioned. “All you are able to do is focus in your horse. It was the suitable factor to do for our horse. The horse had run a tough race within the Kentucky Derby. We’re trying to have a horse for the entire yr and have a profession with him as nicely.”
Mott, whose resolution was seen by some as lower than sporting, felt considerably vindicated with the consequence. “That is dwelling. It’s the race we have been pointing for after the Derby and luckily it labored out nicely,” he mentioned. “I’m positive we might have taken some criticism had he gotten beat in the present day and he hadn’t run within the Preakness. But it surely labored out.”
With $80.80-1 longshot 2022 Derby winner Wealthy Strike additionally not occurring to the Preakness, latest occasions have renewed the talk about whether or not the Triple Crown format needs to be adjusted to permit extra time between begins.
There isn’t a doubt that Sovereignty benefitted from having 5 weeks to get better from the trials of the 1 ¼-mile Derby.
“He got here into the race in nice form and also you noticed what he can do,” Banahan mentioned.
Mentioned Alvarado: “I couldn’t consider how a lot horse I had the entire means round.”
In maybe an indication of his relative freshness and a mirrored image of the eight-horse discipline in comparison with the 19-horse Derby calvary cost, Sovereignty tended a lot nearer to the tempo within the Belmont after rallying from far again for a 1 ½-length Derby rating.
Mott mentioned he by no means anticipated that. Neither did Alvarado. “I used to be a bit of shocked to have him that shut however how simply he did it,” the jockey mentioned.
Wooden Memorial Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets winner Rodriguez, skilled by Corridor of Famer Bob Baffert, did what was anticipated of him by taking the sector by way of a gap quarter of a mile in 23.42 seconds, a half-mile in 47.60 seconds and three quarters of a mile in 1:12.20.
His lead was dwindling, although, after he carved out a mile in 1:36.70. Sovereignty and Journalism have been ready all alongside to pounce. Journalism, after bobbling initially and being carried three to 4 broad across the first flip, made the lead on the high of the stretch. However Sovereignty had far an excessive amount of within the tank and Journalism’s benefit was short-lived.
Rodriguez weakened to complete fourth. He was adopted by Hill Street, Coronary heart of Honor, Uncaged and Crudo.
Mott and Godolphin every received the Belmont for a second time. Mott first obtained on the board with Drosselmeyer in 2010, and Godolphin with Important High quality 4 years in the past.
The Belmont continued an exquisite ascent for Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado. He burst into nationwide prominence along with his cool dealing with of late-running Cody’s Want, one other Godolphin homebred who blossomed into the Horse of the Yr in 2023. Now, he owns his first two Triple Crown tallies because of Sovereignty.
“It’s been surreal,” he mentioned.
Coach Michael McCarthy, in the meantime, sounded as if he can not look forward to a rematch with Sovereignty when they’re extra even when it comes to time between begins. It might come within the DraftKings Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late August. It might have to attend till the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic at Del Mar in early November.
McCarthy mentioned of the circumstances surrounding the Belmont, “Any time good horses get house in between their races, they’re very, very harmful. He (Sovereignty) is an excellent horse. He trains up right here, he’s been up right here for some time, he’s in his yard.
“Let’s hope everyone stays completely satisfied and wholesome and we’ll see him in Del Mar, hopefully in November in our yard.”
Can’t wait.
