Title: "Sovereignty Triumphs in Belmont Stakes as Rodriguez Fades to Fourth"

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Entering the home stretch of Saturday’s 157th running of the Belmont Stakes, a horse with Murray ties had the lead.

Rodriguez, co-owned by Murray State Athletics Hall of Famer Jack Wolf and the Starlight Racing stable he owns with wife, Laurie, near Lexington, had made a strong move to the outside of early pacesetter Crudo and was ahead of the field by about a length.

However, that burst was short-lived as co-favorites Journalism — winner of the second leg of this year’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore — and Sovereignty — winner of the Kentucky Derby back on the first Saturday of May in Louisville — soon blew past him. Rodriguez, making his only appearance in a Triple Crown race this year, tried to battle but the co-favorites were simply too much.

Eventually, it was Sovereignty overtaking Journalism, as he had in the Derby at Churchill Downs, and drawing away to win by three lengths, a margin that was continuing to grow as Sovereignty hit the wire. Rodriguez eventually faded to finish out of the money in fourth, matching the best finish for a Wolf horse this Triple Crown season (Goal Oriented also was fourth in the Preakness after colliding with Journalism entering the home stretch at Pimlico Race Course).

Wolf had horses in all three Triple Crown races this year. Two-year-old champion Citizen Bull was the pacesetter in the Derby before faltering in the home stretch and finishing 15th.

Wolf was seeking his first Triple Crown win since 2020 when Authentic won the Derby. Wolf also was co-owner of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.