ARATOGA SPRINGS — Decorated storefronts. A free concert downtown. Green banners on lamp posts, everywhere you look. Even a limited-edition Stewart’s ice cream flavor. It’s all in celebration of what has finally arrived: the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which has returned to the Saratoga Race Course for only the second time in history.
The third leg of the Triple Crown will feature a rematch between Sovereignty and Journalism, the first and second place finishers (respectively) in this year’s Kentucky Derby. While Sovereignty skipped the Preakness Stakes, Journalism instead ran and won it. With one leg of the Triple Crown apiece, the two horses now aim to settle the score at the Spa.
Post Draw & Predictions
The live post draw show, hosted at a bedazzled and champagne-stocked Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) on Monday, resulted in the following field:
1. Hill Road (10-1)
2. Sovereignty (2-1)
3. Rodriguez (6-1)
4. Uncaged (30-1)
5. Crudo (15-1)
6. Baeza (4-1)
7. Journalism (8/5)
8. Heart of Honor (30-1)
Following the draw, Fox Sports host Acacia Courtney Clement spoke with some of the top trainers heading into the Belmont, including Bill Mott, whose Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty drew the second post position.
“We’ve been very lucky with everything that’s gone on since he’s been [in Saratoga],” Mott told Clement. “He’s been moving well over the track, eating the bottom out of the feeding tub, and he’s carrying his weight well. So we hope he’s doing as good on Saturday and he’s doing this morning.”
Mott attracted controversy recently over his widely reported comment that he and his horse’s connections decided not to run Sovereignty in the Preakness because “we didn’t feel like it.” Although this has perhaps made Journalism more of a fan favorite due to the Michael McCarthy-trained horse running in all three legs of the Triple Crown, it can’t be forgotten that when nose-to-nose in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty was able to put Journalism away. And Journalism, who subsequently won the Preakness in exhilarating fashion, has had a full schedule while Sovereignty has been resting comfortably at the Spa. Nonetheless, Journalism will enter the Belmont as the morning-line favorite.
“He’s been the same kind of horse since July of last summer,” McCarthy told Clement. “He does everything you’d ask a good horse to do; eats well, trains well, acts well. I thought through the last 6, 7 weeks here his energy has been the same throughout. Obviously, Saratoga we know is very good for horses. He seems a little bit re-energized up here.”
Although much of the focus of this year’s Belmont is on the heavyweight showdown between Journalism and Sovereignty, other contenders are hoping for an upset akin to Dornoch’s victory in 2024. Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, finished third in the Kentucky Derby last month, and, much like Sovereignty, has been resting his bones since then. Prior to the Kentucky, Baeza finished 2nd in the Santa Anita Derby, right behind Journalism. Even if Baeza isn’t the next Dornoch, a top-three finish certainly seems plausible.
“Baeza is the best bet,” said Sara Elbadwi, one of the New York Racing Association’s handicappers, at the Embrace the Belmont event at UPH on Tuesday night. “The ride that Flavien Prat gave Baeza in the Derby, he had post 21, all the way to the outside of 20 horses. He had no choice but to have a wide journey in that race. I think that he can sit a little bit closer, as he has in his past races.”
Offering their picks alongside Elbadwi at Embrace the Belmont were fellow handicappers Matthew DeSantis (who picked Journalism for the Belmont), and Seth Merrow (who went with Sovereignty).
Guest Policies
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced last week its guest policies for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which include:
no outside alcohol on June 5, 6, and 7;
no cash accepted for food and beverages, admission, parking, or programs (with the lone exception of the official Saratoga store);
no pop-up tents, folding tables, and wagons from June 5-7 (one folding chair per guest is allowed, as are small bags and purses);
no re-entry throughout the festival;
no professional photography and/or videography equipment;
fans can view morning training at the Oklahoma training track from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday by entering through Gate 21 on East Avenue (pedestrians only, vehicles are not permitted).
Schedules
Wednesday, June 4: parking gates open at 10 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m.; first post time is 12:40 p.m.
Thursday, June 5: parking gates open at 10 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m.; first post time is 12:40 p.m.
Friday, June 6: parking gates open at 9 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 10 a.m.; first post time is 11:40 a.m.
Saturday, June 7: parking gates open at 8 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 9 a.m.; first post time is 10:45 a.m.; post time for the Belmont Stakes is 7:04 p.m.
Sunday, June 8: parking gates open at 10 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m.; first post time is 12:40 p.m.
Entertainment Lineup
Wednesday, June 4: The Mendelssohn Club of Albany will perform trackside, including a rendition of “New York, New York” in celebration of New York Showcase Day.
Friday, June 6: Local opera tenor Angelo Mazzone, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, will sing the National Anthem. Opera Saratoga will also perform a pair of sets trackside during the afternoon, featuring Jarrett Porter (“She Loves Me”); Kate Morton (“Trip to Library”); Shavon Lloyd (“Ilona”) and Chrissy Price (“Ice Cream”). Plus, The Garland Nelson Band will perform on the Purdy’s Summer Music Stage from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 7: Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum artist Mark Tremonti (a founding member of the rock band Creed) will headline this year’s entertainment lineup. Members of Tremonti’s band will perform multiple trackside orchestral sets in the afternoon, culminating in a vocal rendition by Tremonti of “New York, New York.” Also performing: Staff Sergeant Phillip Morris and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Band, who will sing “God Bless America” at 10:20 a.m., and the National Anthem at 3:40 p.m. Plus, the Purdy’s Summer Music Stage will host live music from Nymbis (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Ill Funk (2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m).
Sunday, June 8: The Racing City Chorus, a local chapter of the BarberShop Harmony Society, will perform the National Anthem and a pair of live medleys trackside during the afternoon.
Special Events and Giveaways
Wednesday, June 4: The first 10,000 fans with paid admission will receive a limited-edition “I Love NY-Breds” baseball cap in celebration of New York Showcase Day.
Thursday, June 5: A 1936 Ford Phaeton, a vehicle model which was once owned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, will be on display outside of the Clubhouse Gates, courtesy of the Saratoga Automobile Museum.
Friday, June 6: Fans can enjoy complimentary souvenir photo magnets featuring the backdrop of a Belmont Stakes floral wall at the Jockey Silks Porch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Complimentary samples of Dunkin’ beverages will also be available outside Gates B and C beginning at 3 p.m.
Saturday, June 7: Fans can enjoy complimentary samplings of Bulleit Bourbon at the Bulleit Backyard Gazebo Bar from noon to 5 p.m., while supplies last. Fans can also enter a Belmont Stakes photo fashion contest for a chance to win various prizes from Lifestyles of Saratoga, a women’s fashion boutique located in downtown Saratoga Springs, and Moet Hennessy. The contest will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch. Plus, complimentary souvenir photo magnets featuring the backdrop of a Belmont Stakes floral wall will be available at the Jockey Silks Porch from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 8: The first 5,000 fans through the turnstiles with paid admission will receive a free Belmont Stakes Racing Festival enamel pin featuring the official Belmont Stakes logo.
More Bathrooms?
At least one eagle-eyed social media user photographed what appeared to be more than a dozen portable toilets being trucked into the Saratoga Race Course last Friday. Lines for the bathrooms at last year’s festival were an oft-noted topic of complaint that perhaps will be addressed for the 2025 edition.
Do it again next year?
Although not yet confirmed by NYRA, speculation is growing that the Belmont will return to Saratoga for a third time in 2026 as construction of the new Belmont Park on Long Island is expected to continue well into next year.
Giving Back
Trainers Michael McCarthy, George Weaver, Jonathan Thomas, Whit Beckman, and Amelia Green—a group of former Todd Pletcher assistants—have pledged to donate a percentage of their earnings from the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to support the mission of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a nonprofit that is the oldest and largest Thoroughbred aftercare organization in the the country.
