The rematch is on: Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism versus Kentucky Derby winner (G1) Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
On Sunday (June 1), Journalism was declared a go for the 1 1/4-mile Belmont and will look to avenge his second-place finish to Sovereignty in the Derby on May 3.
Trainer Michael McCarthy confirmed to the New York Racing Association that Journalism would run following the colt’s 4-furlong work in 47.54 seconds at the Spa.
This will be the second year in a row (and 14th time since 1975) that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners have met in the Belmont, but this one has much more allure: It’ll be a showdown featuring the top-rated 3-year-olds in the country in a likely field of eight for the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Sovereignty outdueled Journalism in the Derby and won by 1 ½ lengths, but did not run in the Preakness as Journalism came through with the victory on May 17. No Triple Crown this year, but a matchup like this one will handicappers working hard to come up with a winning formula.
🚨 The rematch is ON! 🚨
Trainer Michael McCarthy confirmed this morning that @PreaknessStakes winner JOURNALISM will run in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, setting up a showdown with @KentuckyDerby champ SOVEREIGNTY! pic.twitter.com/mPWoJNM12M
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 1, 2025
A year ago, longshot Mystik Dan won the Derby, and longshot Seize the Grey won the Preakness (but did not run in the Derby two weeks earlier). Neither won the Belmont – Dornoch was the winner, with Mystik Dan eighth and Seize the Grey seventh.
The rest of the field for Saturday’s $2 million Belmont includes Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Rodriguez, Derby third-place finisher Baeza, Peter Pan Stakes winner Hill Road, Heart of Honor, and Crudo and Uncaged, both trained by Todd Pletcher. The post-position draw is Monday (June 2), when the official field is announced and morning-line odds released.
Of the 13 matchups between Derby winners and Preakness winners in the Belmont, only once has the Derby winner come through (Swale, 1984). The Preakness winner came through five times (Risen Star, 1988; Hansel, 1991; Tabasco Cat, 1984; Point Given, 2001; and Afleet Alex, 2005).
| Year | Derby winner | Preakness winner | Belmont winner |
| 2024 | Mystik Dan (8th) | Seize the Grey (7th) | Dornoch (1st) |
| 2013 | Orb (3rd) | Oxbow (2nd) | Palace Malice (1st) |
| 2011 | Animal Kingdom (6th) | Shackleford (5th) | Ruler On Ice (1st |
| 2005 | Giacomo (7th) | Afleet Alex (1st) | Afleet Alex (1st) |
| 2001 | Monarchos (3rd) | Point Given (1st) | Point Given (1st) |
| 1994 | Go for Gin (2nd) | Tabasco Cat (1st) | Tabasco Cat (1st) |
| 1993 | Sea Hero (7th) | Prairie Bayou (DNF) | Colonial Affair (1st) |
| 1991 | Strike the Gold (2nd) | Hansel (1st) | Hansel (1st) |
| 1988 | Winning Colors (6th) | Risen Star (1st) | Risen Star (1st) |
| 1984 | Swale (1st) | Gate Dancer (6th) | Swale (1st) |
| 1982 | Gato del Sol (2nd) | Aloma’s Ruler (9th) | Conquistator Cielo (1st) |
| 1980 | Genuine Risk (2nd) | Codex (1st) | Temperence Hill (1st) |
| 1975 | Foolish Pleasure (2nd) | Master Derby (3rd) | Avatar (1st) |
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
