Journalism, the recent winner of the Preakness Stakes, is being considered for a rematch against Kentucky Derby champion Sovereignty at the upcoming Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga. This year’s Belmont is expected to feature a competitive field, including notable contenders like Baeza, Hill Road, Heart of Honor, and Rodriguez. Due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park, the race will be run at 1 1/4 miles instead of the traditional 1 1/2 miles, as part of a five-day racing festival with a record purse of $11.275 million.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism previously finished second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby but secured victory in the Preakness with a strong performance. The connections of Journalism expressed their respect for Sovereignty and emphasized that their decision to enter the Belmont will depend on the horse’s condition and McCarthy’s assessment. They aim to be good ambassadors for the sport and are excited about the possibility of competing against a strong field.
Sovereignty, who skipped the Preakness to prepare for the Belmont, has shown good energy in training, while Gosger’s team is still deliberating on their Belmont plans after a solid second-place finish in the Preakness. Preakness third-place finisher Sandman has already shipped to Belmont Park, likely targeting the Jim Dandy Stakes in July.
