Belmont Stakes notes: Triple Crown race takes (at least) one more turn at Saratoga
The race is being held at Saratoga for the second straight year while renovations are being made at Belmont Park.
The 157th Belmont Stakes is set for Saturday at 7:04 p.m. at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The last jewel in racing’s Triple Crown will feature a rematch between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness winner Journalism.
The race is being held at Saratoga for the second consecutive year while renovations are being made at Belmont Park. Speculation is that the 2026 Belmont Stakes also will be held at Saratoga.
Because of the shortened track at Saratoga, the length is 1¼ miles, not the customary 1½-mile endurance grind when this race concludes on the legendary backstretch at Belmont Park.
Among the fun facts about the race:
Dornoch, partially owned by former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, won last year with a time of 2 minutes, 1.64 seconds on a fast Saratoga track.
Werth’s prized horse this season — Flying Mohawk — finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby and hasn’t run since.
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay owns a piece of the No. 5 Crudo (15-1). Flay won here with Creator, who beat Destin by a nose, in 2016.
The record for the fastest Belmont — at 1½ miles — was set by Secretariat in 1973. Running like a “tremendous machine,” Secretariat blazed to a 31-length win in 2:24. Easy Goer (1989) and A.P. Indy (1992) are tied for second-fastest at 2:26.
At the 1¼-mile mark, Secretariat was clocked at 1:59 flat. His average speed for the entire race was 37.5 mph. Try doing that on the Schuylkill on a Friday afternoon at rush hour.
Going back to 1905, the No. 1 post position has seen the most winners with 24, followed by No. 3 at 16. In the last 10 Belmonts, two have come from the No. 2 pole position (Essential Quality in 2021 and Tapwrit in 2017) and two have come from the No. 6 (Dornoch in 2024, Mo Donegal in 2022).
Purses for this year’s Triple Crown races: Kentucky Derby, $5 million; Preakness Stakes, $2 million; Belmont Stakes, $2 million.
Amount given for first place: Kentucky Derby, $3.1 million; Preakness Stakes, $1.2 million; Belmont Stakes, $1.2 million.
Baeza, who has had triple-figure speed ratings in each of his last three races, was third on the opening odds at 4-1. He’s coming off a third-place finish, less than two lengths behind Sovereignty last time out.
“I think he’s earned that respect in his races,” trainer John Shirreffs told reporters this week. “He ran a terrific race in the Kentucky Derby. Didn’t get the best of trips, had a little trouble and didn’t get it soon enough. I think he would’ve had a little better run in the end.”
Blood lines
Each horse’s sire (father), dam (mother), and damsire (maternal grandfather):
Hill Road (1): Quality Road-Exotic Notion by Lemon Drop Kid
Sovereignty (2): Into Mischief-Crowned by Bernardini
Rodriguez (3): Authentic-Cayala by Cherokee Run
Uncaged (4): Curlin-Dark Nile by Pioneerof the Nile
Crudo (5): Justify-Blossomed by Deputy Minister
Baeza (6): McKinzie-Puca by Big Brown
Journalism (7): Curlin-Mopotism by Uncle Mo
Heart of Honor (8): Honor A.P-Ruby Love by Scat Daddy
» READ MORE: Horse racing gives Jayson Werth those competitive juices he misses from his Phillies years
Birthday book
A look at the dates of birth in 2022 for each horse:
Feb. 6 – Journalism (7)
Feb. 10 – Crudo (5)
Feb. 22 – Sovereignty (2)
March 28 – Uncaged (4)
April 5 – Hill Road (1)
April 29 – Heart of Honor (8)
May 13 – Baeza (6)
May 20 – Rodriguez (3)