Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Time: 7:04 p.m. ET
Location: Saratoga Race Course (temporarily replacing Belmont Park due to renovations)
Distance: 1¼ miles
Purse: $2 million
Broadcast: Fox Sports (starting at 4 p.m. ET)
🏁 Confirmed Horses & Post Positions
| Post | Horse | Trainer & Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hill Road | Chad Brown / Irad Ortiz Jr. | 10‑1 |
| 2 | Sovereignty | William Mott / Junior Alvarado | 2‑1 |
| 3 | Rodriguez | Bob Baffert / Mike Smith | 6‑1 |
| 4 | Uncaged | Todd Pletcher / Luis Saez | 30‑1 |
| 5 | Crudo | Todd Pletcher / John Velazquez | 15‑1 |
| 6 | Baeza | John Shirreffs / Flavien Prat | 4‑1 |
| 7 | Journalism | Michael McCarthy / U. Rispoli | 8‑5 |
| 8 | Heart of Honor | Jamie Osborne / S. Osborne | 30‑1 |
🔥 Top Matchups to Watch
- Journalism comes in hot after a Preakness win and is favored for his strong closing style.
- Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby, returns fresh and ready after skipping the Preakness.
The head-to-head between Journalism and Sovereignty is expected to be the race-defining clash.
💸 Betting Strategy
- Favorites to Watch: Journalism, Sovereignty
- Best Value Plays: Crudo and Hill Road present decent odds for exotic bets.
- Pace Prediction: Rodriguez may set the early speed, potentially giving late closers like Journalism a good setup.
🏟 Why Saratoga?
This year’s Belmont is being held at Saratoga due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park. The shorter 1¼ mile distance will make it more competitive and faster-paced than the traditional 1½ miles.
🔚 Summary
- Expect a fierce contest between Journalism and Sovereignty.
- Saratoga adds an exciting twist to the historic event.
- Underdogs like Crudo and Hill Road could surprise bettors.
- With $2 million on the line, all eyes will be on the track.
