Sovereignty Triumphs in the 2025 Belmont Stakes: Highlights and Insights | CNN

Sovereignty, the 2025 Kentucky Derby champion, clinched victory in the 157th Belmont Stakes this past Saturday in Saratoga Springs, New York. With a favored position as the 5-2 odds, Sovereignty edged out Preakness winner Journalism by three lengths.

This win marks Sovereignty’s second achievement in horse racing’s Triple Crown series. After the Derby, the team opted out of the Preakness, choosing instead to focus on the Belmont, a decision that clearly paid off. Baeza finished in third, repeating the same top three from the Kentucky Derby.

Jockey Junior Alvarado, in his first win at two such prestigious races, described the experience as "surreal." He reflected on the challenges he faced a few years back when he thought his career might be fading. "My family has always been my rock," he shared. Their support helped him through tough times.

Trainer Bill Mott, now a two-time Belmont Stakes winner, emphasized that missing the Preakness was a smart move. “If we hadn’t won today, we would have faced a lot of criticism,” he noted, but ultimately, it all fell into place.

Interestingly, no horse has won the Triple Crown since Justify in 2018. Honorably, the Belmont Stakes was held again at Saratoga Race Course this year due to renovations at Belmont Park, adding a unique twist to the event. It’s expected to return to Elmont, New York, in 2027.

For horse racing fans, the stakes are always high. A recent survey by the American Horse Council found that nearly 75 million people in the U.S. have an interest in horses, underlining the sport’s broad appeal. As Sovereignty continues to make headlines, it’s clear that horse racing remains a cherished part of American culture.

For more on horse racing and recent developments, check out the American Horse Council.

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