Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty has already posted a workout in preparation for the $2 million Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on June 7.
Preakness Stakes winner Journalism heads to Saratoga this week after his remarkable victory on Saturday and is possible for the Belmont in what could be a dynamic rematch of racing’s two brightest stars.
"We have the utmost respect for Sovereignty. He beat us on the square in the Kentucky Derby,” Aron Wellman, president of co-owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, said Sunday. “As much as we would love to square off again with Sovereignty, it doesn't factor into our ultimate determination of whether Journalism runs in the Belmont or not.
“We would like to be in position to run in the Belmont, but it will all be contingent on Journalism and what signs he's showing us and (trainer) Michael McCarthy.”
A year ago, Derby winner (Mystik Dan) and Preakness winner (Seize the Grey) met in the Belmont, run for the first time at Saratoga as Belmont Park was being rebuilt. And the winner? Dornoch. Seize the Grey ran seventh, Mystik Dan eighth.
This time, also at the Spa, there’s sure to be more buzz about a rematch: Sovereignty outdueled favorite Journalism in the Derby stretch, then skipped the Preakness while Journalism rebounded by bulling his way between rivals and catch Gosger by a half-length (Mystik Dan and Seize the Grey had not run against each other prior to the Belmont).
Sovereignty worked 4 furlongs in 49.76 seconds at the Spa on Saturday morning.
Also possible for the 1 ¼-mile Belmont are Baeza, third in the Derby, Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, Peter Pan Stakes winner Hill Road, Heart of Honor, fifth in the Preakness, and Gosger, who led the Preakness by five lengths in the stretch before caught near the wire by Journalism.
McAfee, runner-up in the Peter Pan, is possible but the owners would have to pay a $50,000 supplemental entry fee.
In the past 50 years, there have 13 Kentucky Derby winner versus Preakness Stakes winner matchups in the Belmont Stakes. Seven times, neither won; five times the Preakness winner prevailed, and once the Derby winner was victorious.
Derby winner/Preakness winner matchups in the Belmont since 1975, Belmont finish in parenthesis
| 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.
