Godolphin homebred Sovereignty ran down Journalism in the stretch en route to an impressive victory in the 157th running of the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 7. A bay son of Into Mischief, Sovereignty claimed the final jewel of the Triple Crown after winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) and sitting out the Preakness Stakes (G1) for trainer Bill Mott.
“I feel we beat a good field of horses,” said Mott. “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, and 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. Sovereignty was good enough to run him and down and get the job done.”
Michael Banahan, bloodstock director for Godolphin USA, said Mott’s Hall of Fame evaluation of Sovereignty was impeccable.
“I think if you leave the races out of it, it’s what was the right thing to do for the horse? That was what we talked about—what was the right thing for the horse to do going forward,” Banahan shared. “He ran a hard race in the Kentucky Derby. He only just got his season started in the Fountain of Youth, and we had four weeks until the Florida Derby. Then he ran another big race in there and we saw how well he did in the five weeks from the Florida Derby to the Kentucky Derby. And we felt another five weeks between the Kentucky Derby to the Belmont was the right way to go for the horse.”
Sovereignty Closer to the Pace in Belmont Stakes
Winning jockey Junior Alvarado said, “He broke very well today again like he’s been doing. He put himself in a good spot. I was a little shocked at how close but at the same time, how easily he was doing everything. As a jockey, I was very happy where I was. I was forwardly placed and able to see where everybody was—Journalism on the outside, Rodriguez up front, I got to see Johnny’s horse—I had eyes everywhere at that point.
“Journalism ran a great race again,” Alvarado added. “A horse that runs in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness comes back again today, I give him a lot of credit for doing that and he showed up. He’s a very tough horse, too. But today was Sovereignty’s day again.”
The $1.2 million winner’s share of the Belmont purse increased Sovereignty’s bankroll to more than $4.8 million in just seven lifetime outings. In victory, Sovereignty, a Kentucky homebred for Godolphin, became the first non-Triple Crown winner since Thunder Gulch in 1995 to win the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. It was the second Belmont triumph for Godolphin after sending out Kentucky-bred Essential Quality in 2021.