If the 3-year-old stars align the way horse racing fans hope, the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) can be a doozy of a finale to the Triple Crown season.
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Soverignty looks more aggressive and stronger than ever, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who made his comments after his colt worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.54 at Saratoga Race Course on May 23.
Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism has been galloping well at Saratoga and was fitted with a Belmont Stakes saddlecloth – but no definitive word on whether he’s a go for the race on June 7.
Rodriguez, the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner who missed the Derby and Preakness with a foot issue, posted a Belmont-worthy workout a few days ago at Santa Anita Park. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert says his speedy colt is a go the trip to upstate New York.
Ditto for Baeza, third in the Derby for trainer John Shirreffs after a serious workout a few days ago at Santa Anita.
Add a pair of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher’s colts – Peter Pan Stakes (G3) winner Hill Road and Sir Barton Stakes winner Crudo, and the 1 ¼-mile Belmont (at Saratoga for the second year in a row), can be quite the compelling race for fans and handicappers.
The rest of the field: Heart of Honor, fifth in the Preakness, and possibly Captain Cook, third in the Peter for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr.
While there’s no Triple Crown try – Sovereignty skipped the Preakness after beating Journalism by 1 ½ lengths in the Derby -- a matchup of Derby winner versus Preakness winner is the next best thing.
Who will be the favorite? A tough call, but the post-position draw, along with morning-line odds, is Monday (June 2).
Until then, the guessing game continues. Last year, it was Derby winner Mystik Dan versus Preakness winner Seize the Grey, but neither was a top choice in their Classic wins – plus Seize the Grey didn’t run in the Derby but won the Pat Day Mile (G2) on the undercard.
The last Derby-Belmont winner was Thunder Gulch in 1995 (he was third in the Preakness. The last Preakness-Belmont winner was Afleet Alex in 2005 (he ran third in the Derby).
Rodriguez worked 7 furlongs in 1:24.80 on Friday (May 23).
“From what I saw today he’s definitely coming to the Belmont unless something drastically changes,” Baffert told drf.com. “He’s a live horse, he’s pretty fit.”
Baeza worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.40 on May 23.
“As long as he’s eating and maintaining his weight (the Belmont is next),” Shirreffs said. “I think he’s done very well.”
As for Pletcher’s colts, he said “nothing is ruled out.’’
Grande, owned by Mike Repole, was scratched from the Derby due to a foot issue. He’s at Saratoga, as is Crudo, owned by Bobby Flay and James Ventura.
Pletcher is a four-time Belmont winner – with the filly Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013, Tapwrit in 2017, and Mo Donegal in 2022.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
