Sovereignty surges past Journalism again in Belmont

Godolphin’s homebred Sovereignty impressively backed up his Kentucky Derby (G1) victory in Saturday’s $2 million Belmont (G1) at Saratoga, overtaking Preakness (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism in midstretch and drawing clear to a three-length decision. 

After skipping the middle leg of the Triple Crown, Sovereignty came back dynamically from the five-week freshening, racing closer to the pace than in previous races, and the Bill Mott-trained colt left no doubt surrounding superiority in the three-year-old division. 

“This is home,” New York-based Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “It’s the race we were pointing for after the Derby, and fortunately, it worked out very well. I’m sure we would have taken some criticism had he gotten beat today and he hadn’t run in the Preakness, but it worked out. The horse was good. Junior rode him well. He had a lot of confidence in him, and when he cut him loose, the horse responded and got the job done.”

Sovereignty left the starting gate as the 5-2 second choice with regular rider Junior Alvarado and completed 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.69 over a good track.

The final leg of the Triple Crown was held over a shortened distance at Saratoga for the second straight year due to the rebuilding of Belmont Park, where the Belmont is traditionally held over 1 1/2 miles.

Sovereignty broke alertly from post 2 and saved ground while racing within a few lengths of Rodriguez, who sped forward at the break to establish opening splits in :23.42, :47.60, and 1:12.20. Journalism, the 2-1 favorite after rebounding at Pimlico, raced up close to the pace on the outside and launched his bid nearing the completion of the far turn, advancing to take the lead in upper stretch.

Alvarado angled Sovereignty wide into the stretch, and the bay colt lengthened his stride while straightening for home, stylishly driving past Journalism to win going away.

“I was a little shocked at how close (we were to the pace), but at the same time (happy with) how easily he was doing everything,” Alvarado said. “As a jockey, I was very happy where I was. I was forwardly placed and able to see where everybody (was) … I didn’t have to make up too much ground because he was close to the pace. He was very ready today, and right when we were turning for home, I put him in the clear and gave him the cue, and he was just sensational today.”

Baeza, who finished third behind Sovereignty and Journalism in the Kentucky Derby, completed the same trifecta in the Belmont, closing belatedly for show honors at 7-2 odds, 3 1/2 lengths behind Journalism. 

“I feel we beat a good field of horses,” Mott said. “Journalism is a really good horse. I’ve watched him here this last week, and I’ve looked at him – he’s in good form, he looks great, his hair is good, and his weight is good. I think he was ready to run today, and he ran a good race, you know … Sovereignty was good enough to run him down and get the job done.”

Rodriguez held fourth and was followed by Hill Road, Heart of Honor, Uncaged, and Crudo.

After dropping his first two starts at one-turn distances, Sovereignty broke his maiden with an eye-catching romp in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs when stretching to two turns in late October. That marked the final start of his two-year-old season, and Sovereignty returned from a four-month layoff with a neck decision in the Fountain of Youth (G2), rallying determinedly to get up in deep stretch.

He got uncorked too late in the Florida Derby (G1) next out, but the fast-closing second served as a perfect prep for the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty came back to deliver a powerful rally at Churchill, winning by 1 1/2 lengths over a sloppy track.

“It was pretty much like the Derby,” Alvarado said. “Once I got the chance to put him right behind Journalism, just to make sure he has a target turning for home. I know he likes to fight and likes to see what he’s supposed to do. That’s what I did. Turning for home, I followed him a little bit, put him in the clear, and just like he did in the Derby, he just went by (Journalism) again. He was very exceptional today. I couldn’t believe how much horse I had the whole way around today.”

The first stakes winner from the unraced Bernardini mare Crowned, Kentucky-bred Sovereignty counts the Grade 1-winning Empire Maker mare Mushka as his second maternal dam. He’s now earned more than $4.8 million from a 7-4-2-0 record.